OAKLAND (KRON) — Dec. 2, 2020 marks four years since 36 people lost their lives in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire.
For the families of the victims, it feels like it just happened. The fire broke out at a warehouse in Oakland’s Fruitvale district around 11 that 2016 night.
Derick Almena, the warehouse’s leaseholder, and Max Harris were tried in a criminal case on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Harris was acquitted, Almena’s case will be retried.
A lawsuit alleged that the city was negligent in its inspections of the warehouse. However, city officials have maintained that they were not liable for the loss of of life.
Oakland reached a settlement with the families of the victims of more than $32 million.
In the wake of the tragedy, the city hired a new fire chief and changed many of the building enforcement codes.