Obituaries

Oakland Warehouse Fire: Santa Monica Man Among Those Killed

David Cline, 35, grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from UC Berkeley.

SANTA MONICA, CA — A man originally from Santa Monica was among those killed in the Oakland warehouse fire Friday, authorities reported Sunday.

David Cline, 35, died in the fire that broke out at 11:30 p.m. Friday. There are 36 confirmed dead and many more unaccounted for, making it the deadliest fire in Oakland's history.

Cline grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from UC Berkeley. His brother, Neil Cline, went on Facebook to thank people who have reached out after the names of some of the victims were released by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Bureau.

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"We just received word that my brother, David Cline, passed away in the Oakland Fire," Neil Cline wrote Sunday on his Facebook page. "To all of you, thank you. Thank you for your kindness, help and love. To David, we love you. You will be with us always."

A woman answering the phone at the number listed for Neil Cline said he has a statement prepared and will be emailing it out to Patch shortly.

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Seven victims have been publicly identified. An eighth victim was a 17-year-old boy whose identity will not be released by the coroner's bureau because he is a minor.

The fire broke out during an unauthorized electronic music concert, and it was unclear how many people were in the building at the time of the fire. The location of the concert had been a secret until shortly before the show, according to the Los Angeles Times.

When the announcement was made on social media via Twitter and Instagram, about 70 people had gathered at the "Ghost Ship," a warehouse that was turned into an artist live-work place, the Times reported.

There were apparently no fire alarms or working sprinklers inside the building.


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