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The California Report

Ghost Ship Trial Witness Testifies About 'Explosive' Spread of Deadly Fire

Don Clyde
00:48
'Within five seconds it exploded into an inferno,' Ryan O'Keefe said of the blaze he first noticed about 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2016.
The Alameda County Superior Courthouse, pictured on April 2, 2019.
The Alameda County Superior Courthouse in Oakland, seen on April 2, 2019. (Stephanie Lister/KQED)

Updated Wednesday, May 8, at 9 a.m.

A man who volunteered as a greeter and oversaw donations the night of a 2016 electronic music party at an Oakland warehouse that caught fire, killing 36, testified Tuesday that the blaze spread quickly, forcing him and others to flee.

More Coverage of the Ghost Ship Trial

"Within five seconds it exploded into an inferno," Ryan O'Keefe said of the fire, which he first noticed at 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2016, at the warehouse known as the Ghost Ship. Answering questions from Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Autrey James, O'Keefe said he was specifically referring to the silent, rapid spread of the blaze, not an actual audible explosion.

Master tenant Derick Almena and Max Harris, who has sometimes been referred to as a second-in-command or creative director, each face 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter.

O'Keefe said the fire began in the rear of the building and "spread up and then across the ceiling." He said he and three others were forced to flee through a front door, near where they had been welcoming guests. He said they fled due to "extremely viscous" smoke that had a "sparkle-like profile."

O'Keefe said the smoke filled the building so fast he didn't have time to grab his wallet, laptop and beer.

He said he could hear lightbulbs popping in succession from the rear of the building. He said his lip had been burned by smoke.

James asked if he had heard fire alarms, to which O'Keefe answered no. James also asked if he had seen anybody enter with Molotov cocktails or whether he had seen seven to 10 people on the lower floor. O'Keefe said no to the questions.

The defense said in opening statements last week that they will present evidence that arson was the cause of the fire. They said some witnesses will testify that they heard a fight or scuffle, bottles breaking or popping, and approximately seven to 10 people fleeing through a side entrance just before the fire began.

Defense attorney Curtis Briggs said during lunch recess outside court Tuesday that O'Keefe's recollection of how quickly the fire spread validates the defense's arson theory — that an accelerant was responsible for its rapid growth.

O'Keefe also said he had been at a 2016 Thanksgiving gathering at the Ghost Ship, which took place on the second floor of the warehouse. Asked by defense attorney Tyler Smith if he had considered the warehouse during that gathering to be "unsafe," a "death trap" or a "tinderbox," O'Keefe responded no.

O'Keefe also recalled seeing fire extinguishers near a downstairs bathroom the night of the fire.

The prosecution called as its first witness Tuesday forensic pathologist Dr. Thomas Rogers, who performed autopsies on eight of the victims of the blaze.

Rogers, who performs autopsies for Alameda and San Mateo counties, said all eight had died from smoke inhalation and had elevated, potentially lethal levels of carbon monoxide in their blood. The defense did not cross-examine Rogers.

The prosecution has argued that Almena and Harris illegally converted the commercial warehouse into a residential art space, stuffed from floor to ceiling with flammable building materials, and didn't install the proper safety equipment, such as sprinklers, fire alarms and well-lit exits.

Rodney Griffin, who said he had once considered Almena “a brother” prior to a falling out, testified Tuesday that he had been in the warehouse prior to signing of the lease at Almena’s request to evaluate what it would take to get the empty building up to speed.

Griffin, who is not a licensed contractor, but has over 20 years of experience in construction trades, said he told Almena it would take about $3,000 to build a set of stairs toward the front of the building and about $2,000 to install fire doors.

Almena responded that the amount was “too much money, and could probably be built for less.”

Six months following Almena signing the lease, Griffin said he visited the warehouse and told Almena the warehouse was “very dangerous” and called it a “death trap,” at which Almena laughed. Griffin repeated what Almena told him at the time, "Ha. Ha. We should call it the Satya Yuga death trap." The warehouse had also been known as the Satya Yuga collective at the time.

He said three motor homes had been parked inside along with some vintage camper trailers. Griffin said Almena had moved in “so many” art works, pianos, organs, old speakers, tapestries, fabrics and wood, some he said was used to separate living areas.

Griffin also said he grew concerned after it appeared the warehouse had been "fire bombed" in September 2014. He said he visited a fire station approximately one city block away from the warehouse and told the station chief about the conditions there.

Griffin testified the station chief told him there had been numerous reports and that they were aware of the situation.

Griffin testified he felt the issue wouldn't "be properly addressed" and said he felt his concerns would be "brushed off."

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