Survivors Reunite with Oakland Fire Commune Leader

Some of the Oakland fire survivors broke bread with Derick Ion Almena for the first time since the tragedy -- despite him getting blasted for alleged dangerous conditions in the building.

Witnesses tell us the group sat down at a Denny's in Oakland Wednesday night, had a meal ... then went to the Red Cross to pick up some clothes. We're told the entire meal was comped by the Denny's staff.

Our sources tell us ... the people gathered around Almena were residents of the commune who got out of the building the night of the inferno that killed at least 36 people.

The woman next to him is his wife, Micah, who was staying at a hotel the night of the fire.