President Obama On Ghost Ship Tragedy: “Today Our Prayers Go Out To The People Of Oakland”
The President issued a statement on the fire this afternoon.
Elijah Nouvelage
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President Obama released a statement today on the tragic Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, which claimed at least 36 lives, as of the most recent count. "Today, our prayers go out to the people of Oakland, California," said the President's statement, "Oakland is one of the most diverse and creative cities in our country, and as families and residents pull together in the wake of this awful tragedy, they will have the unwavering support of the American people."
The fire, which occurred late Friday night, December 2, during a show headlined by Golden Donna and other artists from the 100% Silk label, already constitutes one of the most deadly structure fires in the U.S. in at least a decade, according to The New York Times. Earlier today, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf confirmed that a criminal investigation has been launched as a preliminary measure while the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
President Obama's statement:
"Today our prayers go out to the people of Oakland, California in the aftermath of this weekend's deadly warehouse fire - one of the worst fires in the state's history. While we still don't know the full toll of this disaster, we do know that an American community has been devastated, and many people - including young men and women with their whole futures ahead of them - have tragically lost their lives.
I want to thank the dedicated first responders who have been working tirelessly for days to contain the situation, recover victims, and treat the wounded. My Administration is in close contact with our state and local partners on the ground to make sure that authorities have everything they need as they continue response operations and investigate the cause of the fire. Oakland is one of the most diverse and creative cities in our country, and as families and residents pull together in the wake of this awful tragedy, they will have the unwavering support of the American people."