Some tragedies don’t come out of nowhere. They build slowly, in plain sight, until the day everything collapses.
The example problem “Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire” from our resource library shows how hidden risks — when left unchecked — can turn into devastating events.
In 2016, a deadly fire swept through an Oakland, California warehouse known as the “Ghost Ship.” The building had been converted into a living and performance space, but it lacked basic fire safety protections.
The fire claimed 36 lives, making it one of the deadliest structure fires in California’s history.
Sologic’s structured Root Cause Analysis highlighted how multiple factors lined up:
Building codes were ignored, and the space was used in ways it was never designed for.
Electrical systems were overloaded and poorly maintained.
Inspections were either missed or ineffective, leaving major hazards unchecked.
Occupants had little awareness of the growing risk, treating unsafe conditions as “normal.”
The fire wasn’t just about one spark. It was about years of accumulated oversights.
Disasters like Ghost Ship don’t happen because of one cause. They happen because small issues compound, and warnings go unheeded.
The lesson for organisations is clear:
Don’t normalise risk. Just because unsafe conditions exist without consequence today doesn’t mean they won’t cause tragedy tomorrow.
Look at systems, not just symptoms. Oversight, training, design, and culture all matter.
Treat inspections and procedures as opportunities to learn, not just boxes to tick.
Every industry — from mining to manufacturing to utilities — faces similar pressures. Time, budgets, and routine can make it easy to overlook risks that feel “ordinary.”
RCA gives teams the tools to identify these vulnerabilities before they cause irreversible harm.
Read the full example problem:
https://www.sologic.com/en-au/resources/example-problems/ghost-ship-warehouse-fire
See how RCA helps turn overlooked risks into actionable improvements.