Instead of handing over prized paintings, a group of Bay Area artists in Oakland Saturday decided to dish out free fire extinguishers and smoke detectors — a move that comes just two weeks after 36 people died in the Oakland warehouse fire.
The artists gathered on Magnolia Street, which is not far from the so-called "Ghost Ship" warehouse, to deliver the potentially live-saving devices to those folks currently living in warehouses or other unique dwellings void of the safety tools.
"There's a lot of scrutiny around these places right now as far as safety goes," artist and musician H.L. Nelly said. "We just want to keep our friends safe, keep our community safe, but also preserve these really precious spaces. They foster the art. They make our community what it is."
Aside from giving away the free gadgets, organizers demonstrated how to properly use a fire extinguisher and douse flames.
Investigators are still trying to determine the source of the deadly blaze, but they are focusing on electrical appliances located in the back of the building.
