‘Ghost Ship’ operators plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter in fire that killed 36 people

Attorney Tony Serra, center, and Brian Getz, who represent Derick Ion Almena, speak to reporters at a courthouse in Oakland.

Attorneys Tyler Smith, right, and Curtis Briggs, who represent Max Harris, speak to reporters at a courthouse in Oakland.

Debris litters the inside of a warehouse where a fire killed 36 people during a club-style party.  (David Butow / For The Times)

A firefighter walks through the burned-out Oakland warehouse on Saturday.

Carmen Brito returns to the warehouse known as the Ghost Ship in Oakland, where she lived when it caught fire, killing 36 people. The building’s manager and creative director pleaded no contest to manslaughter.

Kristen Grzeca, a music teacher at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, hugs Monina Sen Cervone, director of world music and dance at the school, on Sunday at a makeshift memorial for victims of the warehouse fire. A 17-year-old victim was one of Grzeca’s students.

A news conference with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is held near the scene of the fire.

Flowers are left near an Oakland warehouse where a fire broke out during a concert, killing 36 people.