"That includes the environment,the fire and the staffing," Bamattre said. "To say it was because of the budget is premature."

A spokeswoman for Riordan agreed.
 

"Right now, all our energies should be devoted to the family of Capt. Dupee," Noelia Rodriguez said. "An investigation will be done, but we shouldn't use this death as a battle over the budget."

Buzzell said the other firefighters were able to leave through a front door where an engineer was shining a light though the thick smoke.

"It was so dark and thick, no one could see in there," Buzzell said. "We don't know why (Dupee) wasn't able to see it."

An emergency rescue team later found Dupee on his back, with his face mask off and pieces of the ceiling next to him.

Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez said a special investigation team has been formed to look into the death--the 66th in the LAFD's history dating back to 1902--and the cause of the fire.

Until a clear cause is established, the fire is being looked at as arson, making Dupee's death a possible homicide.

The debate
There has been a long debate within City Hall over the value of the staff assistants, used by the department almost as citywide rovers who respond to fires and help coordinate the LAFD response.

Bamattre, under pressure from Riordan and the City Council, agreed last year to reduce the number of staff assistants.

But Buzzell said they serve an invaluable role as fire-scene observers who also help in the deployment of personnel.

"We can't bring Joe back because he's dead," Buzzell said. "What we can do is make sure not one other firefighter follows Joe's footsteps to the grave.

 

Union blames cuts in staffing for fire death
The Los Angeles County Fire Department, whose staffing on its engines and trucks is similar to the city department's assigns staff assistants to fires, said Inspector Henry Rodriguez.

"They help coordinate what we do at fires and how we respond," Rodriguez said.

Fire Commission President Michael Yamaki said the death underscores the demands being placed on the Fire Department.

"We have to wait for the direct cause to come out from the investigation, but I think it's obvious the more people you have on a fire the safer you are," Yamaki said.

"We are asking an awful lot of firefighters--from El Nino to swift-water rescues to brush fires. They're like an insurance policy.When you don't use it, you think it's a waste, but when you need it, you want it there."

Yamaki said he will be using his job as commission president to make the case to the City Council for adequate funding.

"You look at what we are asked to do now, and it's so much more," Yamaki said. "Look at the growth we had in the hillsides from El Nino and you know there will be brush fires and we are now working with fewer inspectors."

In the past five years, the department's budget has grown from $249.6 million to $289 million. At the same time, its staffing dropped from 3,542 in 1993 to 3,345 this year.

Councilman Mike Feuer, who sits on the Budget and Finance and Public Safety committees with the most authority over the LAFD said he was awaiting a full report on Dupee's death.

"I have been concerned for some time whether we have given short shrift to the Fire Department," Feuer said. "If we are going to ask them to do a certain job, we have to make sure they have the funding."

In the line of duty
But Buzzell said he believes the evidence is in.

"The day before he died, Joe Dupee saved a guys life--a captain who got disoriented and Joe went in and saved his life," Buzzell said. "No one has talked about that."

"I told the City Council. I told the Fire Commission. We knew if they kept making cuts someone would die. It's time for these people to stop playing their silly games when people's lives are on the lines."

Funeral services for Dupee are planned for Saturday at at time and place to be determined.