News from: City of Oakland

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2017

Mayor Schaaf and City Administrator Order Fire

Safety Inspection Overhaul, Double Size of Fire
Prevention Bureau
Oakland, CA Today, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Administrator Sabrina
Landreth announced several actions to enhance the quality and speed of fire safety
inspections by the Oakland Fire Department, including doubling the size of the Fire
Prevention Bureau. They also shared correspondence regarding the San Pablo Avenue
Fire that claimed four lives last Monday (see attached).
Media Contacts:

Erica Terry Derryck The San Pablo Avenue Fire is another tragedy that reveals the urgent need to overhaul
Mayor Schaafs Office our inspection process, said Mayor Libby Schaaf. Today we are doubling the number
(510) 238-7072 of staff members in the Fire Prevention Bureau and taking steps to enhance their
EDerryck@oaklandnet.com training and tools. We must expose the reckless property owners who are putting profits
above safety. The two tragic fires over the last months highlight the critical importance
Karen Boyd of leadership, training, technology and staffing at our Fire Department; todays actions
City of Oakland address those needs.
City Administrators Office
(510) 449-4401 While the cause of the deadly fire at 2551 San Pablo Avenue has been ruled
KBoyd@oaklandnet.com accidental, it is clear that over-demand and inadequate staffing require an immediate
remedy, said City Administrator Sabrina Landreth. I have directed the Fire
Department to focus all inspection staff -- engine companies and fire prevention staff
alike -- to catch up on the backlog of inspections, with urgent priority on known
problem properties, in close coordination with building inspectors.

Mayor Schaaf emphasized that these changes have been in the works since the tragic
Ghostship fire and said, Our initial investigation of the San Pablo Avenue fire further
underscores the urgent need for reforms."

Mayor Schaaf and City Administrator Landreth have taken the following steps:

ENHANCED BLUE TAG POLICY & TRAINING

Enhancing our Blue Tag Field Inspection Policy and mandating immediate
training on it to all Fire Department staff to ensure they are clear about the actions
required of fire staff when encountering unsafe building conditions.

ENHANCED STAFFING
Fast-tracking requisitions to hire six additional inspectors as quickly as possible,
doubling the size of inspection staff in the Fire Prevention Bureau, upon approval
of the City Council.
Accelerating the recruitment process for a new permanent Fire Chief without
compromising the community input process.
Calling for additional staff, eventually tripling inspections staff, modifying fees
and the collections procedures in the upcoming proposed Fiscal Year 2017-19
City Budget.
ACCELERATED PROBLEM PROPERTIES INSPECTIONS
Immediately reallocating existing fire house company staff to support inspections
until new inspection staff are in place.
Prioritizing problem properties identified by Station Houses to ensure all
buildings are current on annual inspections.
Bringing stronger and more proactive Residential and Commercial Inspection
Programs to City Council for approval.

ENHANCED TOOLS
Adopting Accela, the building departments online tool, for Fire Department
record keeping to ensure greater transparency and ability to access fire and
planning and building records on properties using the same system and public
interface.

# # #
 Pena, Iowayna

From: Boyd, Karen

Sent: Friday, March 31, 2017 3:32 PM
Subject: Mayor Schaaf and City Administrator Order Fire Safety Inspection Overhaul, Double
Size of Fire Prevention Bureau
Attachments: 2551San Pabloemails.pdf; 2551SanPablo_emails_set2.pdf; 3-31-17
_FireDepartmentInspections.pdf

News from: City of Oakland

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2017

Mayor Schaaf and City Administrator Order Fire

Safety Inspection Overhaul, Double Size of Fire
Prevention Bureau
Oakland, CA Today, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Administrator Sabrina
Landreth announced several actions to enhance the quality and speed of fire safety
inspections by the Oakland Fire Department, including doubling the size of the Fire
Prevention Bureau. They also shared correspondence regarding the San Pablo Avenue
Fire that claimed four lives last Monday (see attached).
Media Contacts:

Erica Terry Derryck The San Pablo Avenue Fire is another tragedy that reveals the urgent need to overhaul
Mayor Schaafs Office our inspection process, said Mayor Libby Schaaf. Today we are doubling the number
(510) 238-7072 of staff members in the Fire Prevention Bureau and taking steps to enhance their
EDerryck@oaklandnet.com training and tools. We must expose the reckless property owners who are putting profits
above safety. The two tragic fires over the last months highlight the critical importance
Karen Boyd of leadership, training, technology and staffing at our Fire Department; todays actions
City of Oakland address those needs.
City Administrators Office
(510) 449-4401 While the cause of the deadly fire at 2551 San Pablo Avenue has been ruled
KBoyd@oaklandnet.com accidental, it is clear that over-demand and inadequate staffing require an immediate
remedy, said City Administrator Sabrina Landreth. I have directed the Fire
Department to focus all inspection staff -- engine companies and fire prevention staff
alike -- to catch up on the backlog of inspections, with urgent priority on known
problem properties, in close coordination with building inspectors.

Mayor Schaaf emphasized that these changes have been in the works since the tragic
Ghostship fire and said, Our initial investigation of the San Pablo Avenue fire further
underscores the urgent need for reforms."

Mayor Schaaf and City Administrator Landreth have taken the following steps:

ENHANCED BLUE TAG POLICY & TRAINING

1
 Enhancing our Blue Tag Field Inspection Policy and mandating immediate
training on it to all Fire Department staff to ensure they are clear about the actions
required of fire staff when encountering unsafe building conditions.

ENHANCED STAFFING
Fast-tracking requisitions to hire six additional inspectors as quickly as possible,
doubling the size of inspection staff in the Fire Prevention Bureau, upon approval
of the City Council.
Accelerating the recruitment process for a new permanent Fire Chief without
compromising the community input process.
Calling for additional staff, eventually tripling inspections staff, modifying fees
and the collections procedures in the upcoming proposed Fiscal Year 2017-19
City Budget.

ACCELERATED PROBLEM PROPERTIES INSPECTIONS

Immediately reallocating existing fire house company staff to support inspections
until new inspection staff are in place.
Prioritizing problem properties identified by Station Houses to ensure all
buildings are current on annual inspections.
Bringing stronger and more proactive Residential and Commercial Inspection
Programs to City Council for approval.

ENHANCED TOOLS
Adopting Accela, the building departments online tool, for Fire Department
record keeping to ensure greater transparency and ability to access fire and
planning and building records on properties using the same system and public
interface.

# # #

3
Pena, Iowayna

From: Cappio, Claudia

Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2017 12:03 PM
To: Campbell Washington, Annie; Guillen, Abel; Brooks, Desley; Gallo, Noel; Reid, Larry;
McElhaney, Lynette; Kalb, Dan; Kaplan, Rebecca
Cc: Nosakhare, Shereda; Karchmer, Joanne; Daniel, Christine; Landreth, Sabrina; Cotton,
Chantal; Mlay, Serenity S.; Hamilton, Harry; Boyd, Karen; Derryck, Erica
Subject: San Pablo Fire Information and Follow Up

Dear City Councilmembers,

On Monday, March 27, 2017, at approximately 5:40 a.m., Oakland Fire Dispatch received a call reporting a fire
at 2551 San Pablo Avenue. Due to the fires intensity and the large number of occupants residing in the
building, the fire was escalated to a fourth alarm. Oakland Fire rescued at least 15 persons during the incident
and assisted dozens more in evacuation.

There were four injured victims (2 adults and 2 children) transported to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and
UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital Oakland for treatment. It is our understanding that the injuries sustained
were not life threatening.

There were four fatalities. Of the four victims, two names have been released by the Alameda County Sherriffs
Office, Coroners Bureau: Edwarn Anderson, 64 and Cassandra Robertson, 50.

Throughout the day, Oakland Fire crews went through the building extinguishing hot spots and conducting a
thorough search of the building. The Oakland Police Department was on scene for traffic controls purposes.
Oakland Fire was assisted on this incident by the Alameda County Sherriffs Office which provided search dogs
to help locate victims.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Oakland Fire Department concluded its operations at 2551 San Pablo Avenue,
and the building was turned over to the property owners representatives to be secured. The fire has been
deemed to have been accidentally caused. The fire investigation report should be completed in the next few
weeks.

Emergency Shelter
The City of Oakland is coordinating with the American Red Cross and the Alameda County Health Care
Services Agency to provide additional resources to these impacted individuals. In addition to emergency shelter
at the West Oakland Youth Center, services offered onsite at the shelter include grief counseling, meals,
housing location assistance and medical, social and behavioral support services.

The emergency shelter has operated 24/7 since Monday, March 27. As of Monday night, April 3, only 13
individuals spent the night at the shelter.

The attached Draft Framework on prioritizing assistance outlines the steps being taken to support all victims
who were displaced by the fire. Given there are insufficient housing options immediately available, this
prioritization framework guides the City to ensure the most vulnerable residents (seniors, mothers with children,
and people with serious mental or physical health conditions or disabilities) are given priority for an appropriate

1
housing placement. These criteria are consistent with existing practices for allocating emergency shelter and
housing resources.

The City, Alameda County and other public, non-profit and private housing providers are working to identify a
full range of housing options, based on need, for all impacted residents including shelter, transitional housing,
permanent supportive housing and affordable housing options. Clients will be offered various options based on
their need, program eligibility and availability of beds/units.

The emergency shelter at the West Oakland Youth Center will close for overnight stays on Wednesday, April 5,
2017. The last night for overnight shelter will be Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

Other Steps Being Taken

Local Assistance Center
On Tuesday, April 4, 2017, the City of Oakland and the Red Cross will open a comprehensive one-stop
assistance office at 270 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (adjacent to Clay Street and across the street from the Elihu
Harris State Office Building). Hours of operation are scheduled from 10 am to 7 pm on Tuesday through Friday,
April 7, 2017.

City staff members are reaching out to the former residents of 2551 San Pablo Avenue to schedule specific
appointment times at the Local Assistance Center. The first priority for appointments will be seniors, mothers
with children and people with serious mental or physical health conditions or disabilities. Appointments are
important in order to not jam up the center.

Finding and matching clients with available short- and mid-term housing is the most important initial step in
assistance. Workers will review eligibility criteria and other requirements. Other services will include the DMV,
State Employment Development Department,County Social Services, Food Bank, Red Cross and other
assistance.

Temporary Housing
A list of available shelter beds has been distributed. Shelter clients and other victims of the fire need to identify
temporary shelter as soon as possible before the West Oakland Shelter closes. Although shelter beds are not an
ideal or long-term solution, beds are being reserved by providers for fire victims.

Individuals with fragile health, mental or physical disabilities, and mothers with small children are being given
priority in being placed into medium- and longer-term housing. As more resources become available, we will
immediately post and email/text to affected families and individuals. The City and Red Cross remain committed
to identifying all housing resources available by the time the shelter closes.

Relocation Assistance
The City has rules that require a property owner to provide relocation assistance to tenants in the event of
displacement, where tenants must be relocated. This assistance is offered on a unit-by-unit basis not on an
individual basis. A more detailed explanation of this assistance and a worksheet for verifying tenancy was
distributed at the Shelter meetings. These same worksheets will also be available at the Local Assistance Center.
The City will do everything they can to expedite these payments to eligible tenants.

I will send additional related information in a separate email. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards, Claudia

ClaudiaCappio
AssistantCityAdministrator
CityofOakland
2
1FrankOgawaPlazaSuite301
Oakland,CA94612
ccappio@oaklandnet.com
5102386654direct
5102387798WinnieWoo,Assistant

Thisemailcommunicationisintendedforthesoleuseoftheintendedrecipient(s).Anyunauthorizedreview,use,disclosureordistributionis
prohibited.Ifyouarenottherecipient,pleasecontactthesenderbyreplyemailanddestroyallcopiesoftheoriginalmessageandany
attachments.Thankyou.

3
Pena, Iowayna

From: Derryck, Erica

Sent: Monday, March 27, 2017 4:36 PM
Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Statement from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf re: San Pablo
Ave/Mead Ave Fire

News from: Office of the Oakland Mayor Libby

Schaaf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2017

Statement from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

re: San Pablo Avenue/Mead Ave Fire

OAKLAND, CA Today, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf issued the following statement
in response to a 4-alarm fire that broke out at 2551 San Pablo Avenue, a residential
building on San Pablo and Mead Avenues, where two fatalities have been confirmed.

I want to offer my deepest sympathies to the families who have been hurt and
displaced by this tragic fire and to the loved ones of the victims whose lives we know
Media Contact: were lost.
Erica Terry Derryck
(510) 238-7072 I want to thank our first responders for their tireless effort to put out this blaze and
ederryck@oaklandnet.com
provide for the safety of as many residents as possible. I am grateful for their
continued work on the scene to ensure that every resident is accounted for, and to
conduct a thorough investigation.

I was able to visit the scene this morning and to connect with families at the
assistance center that has been set up by the Red Cross, which provides an
invaluable array of services to families in their time of need.

I also want to thank Kaiser Permanente for their generosity in providing a medical
doctor, nurse, pharmacists and a social worker from their Oakland facility to aid the
impacted families in addressing emotional trauma, chronic medical issues, refilling
prescriptions and navigating the process as they begin rebuilding.

Oakland is a generous and supportive community that I know will rally around these
residents many of whom are among the most vulnerable in our community. Now
more than ever they need our assistance.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please contact the Red Cross at
www.redcross.org. Check the option Home Fire Relief and note in the comments
that your gift is earmarked for services to support families impacted by the 2551 San
Pablo Ave/Mead Ave fire in Oakland, CA.

###

2
Pena, Iowayna

From: Robinson Pinon, Angela C

Sent: Monday, March 27, 2017 9:25 PM
To: Robinson Pinon, Angela C
Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Update on Fire at 2551 San Pablo

News from: Oakland Fire Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2017

Update on Fire at 2551 San Pablo Avenue

Oakland, CA At approximately 5:40 AM this morning, Oakland Fire Dispatch

received a call reporting that there was a fire at 2551 San Pablo Avenue. Due to the
fires intensity and the large number of occupants residing in the building, the fire
was escalated to a fourth alarm. Oakland Fire rescued at least 15 persons during the
incident and assisted dozens more in evacuation.

Media Contacts: Currently the fire is under control. There were four victims (2 adults and 2
children) transported to Summit and Childrens Hospital for treatment. It is our
understanding that the injuries sustained were not life threatening, and that they are
Angela Robinson Pion
510-238-4055
due to be released from the hospital today.
arobinsonpinon@
oaklandnet.com There are three confirmed fatalities. Their names will be released upon
notifications of the victims next of kin.

Throughout the day Oakland Fire crews have been going through the building
extinguishing hot spots and conducting a thorough search of the building for any
additional victims. The search has been a slow and methodical process due to the
areas of the building that were structurally compromised in the fire, and the amount
of debris in the building.

The Oakland Fire Department Technical Rescue Team will be working on shoring
up areas of the building to prevent further collapse. This is necessary for not only
for the safety of fire personnel, but also for the ongoing search effort. Oakland Fire
crews will remain on scene until this work is complete. The Oakland Police
Department remains on scene for traffic controls purposes.

Oakland Fire has begun to investigate this incident; however, the cause and origin
of the fire has not been determined.

Oakland Fire is being assisted on this incident by the Alameda County Sherriffs
Office which has provided search dogs to help with the location of any additional
victims. The Sherriffs Office will also examine the victims and make notifications

1
to their families.

Red Cross has been working with Oakland Fire staff to provide resources to the
displaced residents, and the families of the fire victims. Family members and
friends, looking for their loved ones may call (510) 595-3223 for more information.

We will be providing updates as more information becomes available.

# # #

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