Sheriff: Warehouse fire probe focused in area full of appliances

The Oakland warehouse inferno that killed at least 36 people apparently started in a rear part of the building that contains several appliances, Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern told The Chronicle on Tuesday afternoon.

Ahern said emergency workers have been extra-careful about removing debris from that part of the Ghost Ship converted warehouse, so as not to disturb what could be evidence for determining the source of the ignition.

Investigators from local agencies and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been picking through the wreckage of the building dubbed the Ghost House since Saturday, a day after the blaze broke out, trapping and killing at least 36 people who were there for a music party.

Electrical hookups throughout the artists collective were described by many who lived there as a hodgepodge of dangerously jerry-rigged wires strung between a wild collection of artworks, pianos, furniture and hand-crafted creations.