Boat fire investigation continues as families of victims mourn the loss of loved ones

As investigators continue to search through evidence into what happened to cause a dive boat trip to go horribly wrong on Labor Day weekend, families of the victims begin the recovery effort.

Two families were on the trip celebrating birthdays, including for 17-year-old victim, Tia Salika.

Her friend, Berenice Felipe, had joined the Salika family of three on that trip. All would be killed in a boat fire that investigators have not found a cause for at this time.

A Facebook Fundraiser was issued in the aftermath of the fire for Felipe. It was created by the mother of one of Felipe’s friends.

As of this writing it has raised more than $20,000 in five days.

Meanwhile, Authorities are serving search warrants at the California company that owned the scuba diving boat that caught fire.

Santa Barbara County sheriff’s Lt. Erik Raney says the warrants served Sunday are part of the ongoing investigation by local and federal officials into the tragedy. He says authorities are searching Truth Aquatics’ offices in Santa Barbara and the company’s two remaining boats.

Investigators say the victims were sleeping in a cramped bunkroom below the main deck and their escape routes were blocked by fire.

The bodies of all but one victim have been recovered. The search for the final victim was suspended because of strong winds and rough seas.