Oakland community mourns loss of two artists killed in fire

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The Oakland arts community is banding together after two artists died in an apartment fire this weekend.

The victims are identified as mixed-media artist Daniel Moe Thomas and videographer Davis Letona.

They were sleeping in their 24th Street apartment when the fire started. Their unit was destroyed and another apartment was also damaged.

The building's owner wants to clear out the other 30 artists and musicians who live there to make repairs, but the residents are afraid of moving out. "If you are living in Oakland right now, you cannot move. You will not find an apartment that is as affordable as your current apartment. I doesn't happen, so everybody is under duress and this is the last thing that we need," Jonas Strauss said.

Friends have started a memorial for the artists outside the building.

There is also a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for Letona's memorial service.

Click here to see Letona's movie projects.