Former Somerville local Micah Danemayer was one of dozens who lost their lives in the devastating warehouse fire in Oakland, CA, last Friday.

By Jim Clark

A devastating fire that broke out in a warehouse in Oakland, CA, last Friday has reportedly taken the lives of at least 36 victims, including that of 28-year-old Micah Danemayer, who grew up in Somerville.

Danemayer was reportedly projecting videos during an unlicensed electronic music concert in the building, dubbed “The Ghost Ship,” when the fatal blaze started.

According to preliminary reports, three other Massachusetts natives were also killed fire: Peter Wadsworth, of Cohasset; Amanda Allen, of Chelmsford; and Nick Gomez-Hall, a graduate of Brown University.

The warehouse in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood had a notorious history of illegal use by artists for living and working space and frequently held unlicensed events such as the one that took place on Friday.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire, but a faulty refrigerator has been mentioned as a possibility.

Danemayer, who as an electronic musician went by the name Paralycyst, was reportedly operating a video projector when the fire broke out. His girlfriend, 26-year-old Alana Kane was also believed to be in the building at the same time and remains missing as of this writing.

Danemayer’s family released the following statement on Tuesday:

“Last Friday our son, Micah Danemayer, was among the dozens of young souls lost in the tragic Oakland warehouse fire, where he was performing with other audio and visual artists. He was a funny creative kid and a funny creative adult. When he graduated from Massachusetts College of Art in 2011 and immediately left for San Francisco we never thought we’d miss his room piled high with art assemblages, analog electronic gear, and solvents, we never thought we’d miss having a vegan at our meat-eating table, we certainly never thought we’d miss his rubix cube tattoo. Of course we miss all of it. Micah found his niche in a community of artists who reveled in experimental visual and audio electronica. In the words of a friend, he was ‘a wonderful charming eccentric beauty of a young man,’ whose open heart drew many many other free spirits to him. We were lucky to have him for 28 years. We will miss him, and the weirdness and creativity and love that trailed in his wake. Thank you to all who have shown your love and support during these trying times. A scholarship fund in his name is being set up at the Massachusetts College of Art to help others young artists find their voice.”

Recovery efforts at the scene of the fire continue and the investigation into its cause is ongoing.