Search continues for final victim of boat fire off Santa Barbara
Officials say divers have resumed a search for the last missing victim who died in a fatal boat fire as authorities continue a criminal investigation into the blaze that killed 34 people off the coast of California.
The search had been halted over the weekend and Monday because of high winds.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told the county’s Board of Supervisors that salvage operations to raise the Conception out of the water also restarted Tuesday.
Brown said the victims, 21 women and 13 men, ranged from 16 to 62 years old.
Brown says the preliminary examinations indicate the victims died of smoke inhalation and perished before they were burned.
Authorities are working to identify the victims and release their remains to their families.