John Bacon, and Melanie Eversley

USA TODAY

A refrigerator could have been the cause of the warehouse fire in Oakland that left 36 people dead, according to government officials.

Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern said he'd been told by the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that a refrigerator might have been the cause of the fatal blaze, Ahern's office confirmed Tuesday.

Jill Snyder, the special agent over ATF's San Francisco office, said it is too early to say whether a refrigerator caused the fire, though she did say it was a potential source of ignition, the Associated Press reported.

One of the people who escaped the flames told authorities there were flames coming from the refrigerator, KTVU reported.

"On that back wall, there's a significant 45 degree angle burn," Ahern told KTVU.

An ATF spokeswoman told USA Today that the investigation and interviews were continuing.

Earlier Tuesday, the manager of Oakland's Ghost Ship expressed sorrow for the fiery tragedy that ripped through a dance party last week as authorities announced all but one of the victims had been identified.

Derick Almena, manager of the warehouse-turned-artist-cooperative, told NBC's Today that the building was a place for artists whose "dreams were bigger than your pocketbook" and needed shelter and a place to develop their craft.

“I’m incredibly sorry," Almena said. "Everything that I did was to make this a stronger and more beautiful community and to bring people together.”

As Almena expressed sadness and remorse, members of the Oakland community and the general public joined forces to raise funds to aid the survivors and victims' families. Two crowdfunding campaigns -- one organized by the Oakland Athletics baseball team, the Oakland Raiders football team and Golden State Warriors basketball team -- together had raised about $800,000 by Tuesday afternoon. Both campaigns were generated through the YouCaring.com site.

The campaign called Oakland Fire Relief raised $389,296 by Tuesday afternoon. As part of that campaign, the three athletic franchises vowed to match up to $50,000 in donations. The Fire Relief Fund for Victims of Ghostship Oakland Fire raised $432,894 by Tuesday afternoon.

Almena, 47, said when he signed the lease more than three years ago he assumed the building met city standards. He and his family lived there, he added.

“People didn’t walk through those doors because it was a horrible place," he told Today. "People didn’t seek us out to perform and express themselves because it was a horrible place.”

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Most of the victims were in their 20s or 30s. A few were teenagers. Sgt. Ray Kelly, spokesman for the Alameda County sheriff, said some of victims texted simple messages to loved ones as the fire roared through the warehouse. One set of texts: "I'm going to die" followed by "I love you."

Kelly said searchers found bodies of people "protecting each other, holding each other."

Robert Lipp, a battalion chief for the Oakland Fire Department, said about 85% of the building had been searched and he did not anticipate the death toll would rise. Alameda County Sheriff's Deputy Tya Modeste said the families of 26 of the victims have been notified. Nine other victims have been tentatively identified, she said.

Lipp said authorities located the location where the fire started but have yet to determine the cause.

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Fire raced through the cluttered building Friday night during a concert and dance party on the second floor. The only route to the first floor exits was a dark, rickety stairway, officials said. The building was not equipped with fire sprinklers or smoke detectors.

The city buildings department started an investigation into the property last month citing “illegal interior building structure.”

The family of Chor Ng, owner of the Ghost Ship property, issued a statement to KNTV in San Jose.

“I’m sorry but we do not have any comment, we are also trying to figure out what’s going on like everybody else,” the statement said. "We’re so sorry to hear about the tragedy. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of those injured and those who lost their lives.”

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said it was too early to determine if anyone would face criminal charges in the case.

"The range of charges could be murder all the way to involuntary manslaughter," she said. "We won't know until we finish our investigation."