A bizarre fire incident that occurred at an electric dance concert in Oakland, California, killed 36 people with rescue operations still ongoing. The incident reportedly took place at an old abandoned warehouse.

A statement issued out by the area officials said that more than half of the building had been cleared with 36 bodies so far being found. They added that an equally greater number was to be expected.

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BBC reported that Oakland Fire Department Chief Teresa Deloach-Reed said that not less than 50, or more than 100 people, were inside the building when the incident occurred. Mail online reported that a 17-year-old boy was among the victims of the incident.  

"The building did not have a sprinkler system and firefighters did not hear any alarms when they arrived," she said.

She added that rescue operations were expected to continue for another two days ideally because the building was filled with furniture, which catalyzed the fire. "The warehouse was packed with furniture," she said. "It was almost like a maze."

Investigations are still ongoing on how the fire started. Deloach-Reed, however, explained that every necessary action was being taken to cautiously remove the dead bodies of the victims.

Identification of the victims of the fire has so far proven to be challenging. Of all the registered deaths, only three families have so far identified their loved ones.

With the low turnout for identification of the victims, CNN reported that an organization called Impact Your World has launched new initiatives that could assist the victims of the fire incident.  

Among the initiatives is Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, which has established YouCaring to assist the victims' loved ones.

TagsOakland, fire, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, rescue operations