Remembering the Ghost Ship Warehouse fire one year later

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - One year later, the victims of the Ghost Ship fire were remembered in vigils held in front of the tragic site at 31st Avenue and International Boulevard in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood.

As many as 25 people lived in the warehouse, and while some survived the deadly fire- 36 lives were lost.

The fire victims were honored at memorials and night clubs, where people held a moment of silence between 11 p.m. and midnight. 

The members of the community that visited the memorials and artwork dedicated to the victims say it is a celebration of love.

For Mary Vega, coming back wasn't easy. It took alost a year.

"This is my first time, it's very hard. I'm still shaking," she said.

Vega lost her 22-year-old son, Alex, to the Ghost Ship fire. He died along with his girlfriend- 20-year-old Michela Gregory. 

Mourning the loss of life, Vega said, "I'm not mad about what happened. I don't want to be mad. That's not who I am. I don't want them to say one day- nothing happened. My son didn't die in vain."

The victims were remembered in creative ways with candles lit nad arranged- nearly displayed in the number "36".

Names and pictures also adorned a fence that lines the building. 

Dan Vega lost his bother. He said, "I mean it's super tragic. This didn't have to happen.  I don't understand how a city would not be able to know what's going on in the buildings".

Oakland council member Noel Gallo lives two blocks away. He called the fire a tragedy for Oakland, the state, and the country.