California sports teams tweet support and donate after fatal Oakland party fire
Some of California's major sports teams have pledged on Twitter to help the victims and families affected by a devastating fire that tore through an Oakland warehouse party Friday night, killing at least 33 people.
The Oakland Raiders said it would join Oakland Athletics to match donations up $30,000.
The NFL team also announced it would observe a moment of silence prior to its game against the Buffalo Bills at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday.
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The San Francisco Giants said it would also support the fund, while the Golden State Warriors tweeted the NBA team would donate $50,000 to the Unity Council.
"When a tragedy of this magnitude hits this close to home, we feel it's imperative to do our small part to help our community and those impacted," Rick Welts, Warrior president and COO, said in a statement.
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It's unclear how the fire broke out in the warehouse, but authorities said at least two dozen people remain missing.
There were no sprinklers inside, and the flames left the crowded building dangerous to enter, delaying the relief effort. Search and rescue operations were expected to resume Saturday afternoon after firefighters tried to stabilize the structure.
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"It was just a labyrinth of little areas. We knew people were in there, and we were trying to get them out. But it was just a labyrinth," Oakland deputy fire chief Mark Hoffmann told reporters Saturday afternoon.
"Something as simple as a cigarette could have started this," Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly said. "It appears that either you got out or you got trapped inside."
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
