Derick Almena, the manager of the Oakland, California warehouse that went up in flames during a weekend party and killed at least 36 people, defended his role as landlord for the building which was used as a residential artist community.

"I'm only here to say one thing: I'm incredibly sorry and that everything that I did was to make this a stronger and more beautiful community and to bring people together," he said Tuesday on TODAY during an emotional interview. "People didn't walk through those doors because it was a horrible place. People didn't seek us out to perform and express themselves because it was a horrible place."

Related: Warehouse fire in Oakland kills at least 36 people



17 PHOTOS Deadly Oakland 'Ghost Ship' fire See Gallery Deadly Oakland 'Ghost Ship' fire Firefighters work inside the burned warehouse following the fatal fire in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 4, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Smoke rises above a warehouse as firefighters work to put out remaining hot spots following an overnight fire that claimed the lives of at least nine people at a warehouse in the Fruitvale neighborhood on December 3, 2016 in Oakland, California. The warehouse was hosting an electronic music party. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Imag OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 03: A woman becomes emotional while speaking on the phone near the scene following an overnight fire that claimed the lives of at least nine people at a warehouse in the Fruitvale neighborhood on December 3, 2016 in Oakland, California. The warehouse was hosting an electronic music party. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Imag OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 03: Firefighters work at the scene following an overnight fire that claimed the lives of at least nine people at a warehouse in the Fruitvale neighborhood on December 3, 2016 in Oakland, California. The warehouse was hosting an electronic music party. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Imag Oakland, California, firefighters inspect a warehouse (Rear C) on December 3, 2016, where a fire during a rave party killed 9 people on December 2. Nine people were killed and 25 missing after a huge blaze broke out during a rave party near San Francisco held in a cluttered, maze-like warehouse for artists, known as 'Oakland Ghostship,' fire officials said Saturday. / AFP / Virginie GOUBIER (Photo credit should read VIRGINIE GOUBIER/AFP/Getty Images) People embrace during a vigil at the Chapel of the Chimes for the victims of a fire in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam A woman places flowers at a makeshift memorial near the scene of a fire in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam Firefighters exit a warehouse where a fire broke out during an electronic dance party late Friday evening, resulting in at least nine deaths and many unaccounted for in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam A firefighter carries a water hose near a warehouse where a fire broke out during an electronic dance party late Friday evening, resulting in at least nine deaths and many unaccounted for in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam Firefighters remove debris at a warehouse after a fire broke out during an electronic dance party late Friday evening, resulting in at least nine deaths and many unaccounted for in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam Recovery teams examine the charred remains of the two-story converted warehouse that caught fire killing dozens in Oakland, California, U.S., December 4, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Danielle Boudreaux, 40, who knew Derick Ion Almena and his children and went to the Ghost Ship many times, cries a sidewalk memorial near the burned warehouse following the fatal fire in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California, U.S. December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY People gather at the Lake Merritt Pergola during a vigil for the victims of the fatal warehouse fire in Oakland, California, U.S. December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 05: People hold up candles and burning wood during a vigil for the victims of a warehouse fire that has claimed the lives of at least thirty-six people on December 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. The fire took place during a musical event late Friday night. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 05: Law enforcement and firefighters are seen at the site of a warehouse fire that has claimed the lives of at least thirty-six people on December 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. The fire took place during a musical event late Friday night. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) A firefighter watches from the roof at the scene of the fatal warehouse fire in Oakland, California, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 04: An unidentified bystander looks at the site of the warehouse fire in Oakland, CA Sunday, December 4, 2016. Officials said they are continuing to search the charred rubble from the fatal fire that ripped through a late-night dance party in a converted warehouse earlier in the weekend. (Photo by Jay L. Clendenin /Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Almena said he opened the warehouse to artists that didn't have space elsewhere and for people who "can't pay your rent because your dream is bigger than your pocketbook" and needed shelter.

"We created something together. This stopped being me. This stopped being about me three years ago," he said.

Almena said when he signed a lease, he "got a building that was to city standards supposedly."

The 47-year-old Almena also said he lived in the warehouse with his family just like other residents and defended himself against claims he sought to make profits at the expense of safety.

"This is profit? The loss of mass life? I'm a father. I lay my three children down there every night," he said, calling himself the "father of this space." "Profit? This is not profit, this is loss. This is a mass grave."

Almena became increasingly distraught as the interview wore on and began rambling when asked about how his management of the building may have played a role in the fire and the loss of life.

"I didn't do anything ever in my life that would lead me up to this moment. I'm an honorable man. I'm a proud man," he said.

"No, I'm not going to answer these questions on this level. I'd rather get on the floor and be trampled by the parents. I'd rather let them tear at my flesh than answer these ridiculous questions. I'm so sorry, I'm incredibly sorry," he said shortly before Matt Lauer thanked him for his time.

Almena has been criticized for checking into a hotel with his partner and their kids the night of the fire. On TODAY, he said he did so only because he knew a party was being planned for that evening and he wanted to avoid the scene.

"Did I know there was going to be a fire? Did I remove my children from the space and get a hotel because I wanted to avoid this, because I wanted to cast blame on other people?" he said. "No, because I wanted to get a good night sleep with my children. I wanted let the young people do what they wanted to do.

"I'm not going to answer these questions the way you're present presenting them."

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