The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office has been designated as the agency that will help victims of the Conception dive boat fire seek funding for funeral-related costs, applications for compensation, and referrals to counseling services.
Thirty-four people were killed when the boat caught fire and sank off Santa Cruz Island early Labor Day morning. Five crew members survived.
District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley is urging any members of victims' families that have not already contacted the county for help in seeking services, to call 805-568-2400 or toll free at 855-840-3242.
She is also encouraging first responders to take advantage of the At Ease program, which was created by the Santa Barbara Police Foundation to provide free counseling services to first responders, by calling 844-727-3911.
Multiple federal agencies are currently investigating the dive boat fire. The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the incident last week, but final reports are not expected for at least a year.
