Aid Pours In for Families of Copter Crash Victims

As Los Angeles city fire officials prepare for the biggest memorial service in department history this Saturday, friends and relatives of the four victims of Monday’s rescue helicopter crash in Griffith Park are taking comfort from an outpouring of community support.

At Fire Stations 81 and 90 in the northeast San Fernando Valley, where paramedics Michael A. Butler and Eric F. Reiner and flight crew member Michael McComb were based, cards and flowers piled up.

“People are doing everything and anything they can to support the families and the Fire Department,” said Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez. “The sympathy and generosity has been amazing. It’s really overwhelming for the three families.”

At the Tujunga home of an aunt of Norma Vides, the 11-year-old patient who also was killed in the early morning chopper crash, mourning family members said they were grateful not only for donations toward the cost of the funeral but also for heartfelt gestures such as the arroz con pollo made by two teaching assistants at Norma’s former elementary school.

“They’re very needy right now. The whole family is in shock, and with their mother still in the hospital they can really use the help,” said Kathleen St. John, who with fellow teacher Ana Del Rosario delivered chicken, ribs, fish, beans and cookies to Norma’s family this week.

Norma was part of a family of seven who shared a four-bedroom apartment in Sun Valley with her mother, Genoveva Anaya, who also was injured in the crash.

Norma’s father, who had been with the family but went back to El Salvador to await immigration papers, has returned for her funeral, which will be held Tuesday, relatives said.

At Mt. Gleason Middle School, where Norma was in the seventh grade, and Pinewood Elementary School and Verdugo High School, which some of her siblings attend, administrators established memorial funds and are collecting clothing and other items for the family.

“I’m overwhelmed with the support we’ve received,” said Mt. Gleason Assistant Principal John McLaughlin. “After two days, we’ve already collected over $2,000 and there have been a lot of phone calls from other people who want to help.”

As the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the cause of the crash, city fire officials are planning a three-pronged procession Saturday to honor their fallen comrades.

Processions from the two San Fernando Valley fire stations, 81 and 90, will meet downtown with a third coming from Dodger Stadium, then continue to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena for a service.

The event comes exactly two weeks after another memorial service for Fire Capt. Joseph C. Dupee, 38, who died while battling a fire in South-Central Los Angeles on March 8.

Before the Valley processions, private flag-lowering ceremonies and the traditional 10-bell salute will take place at Stations 81 and 90.

As firefighters from Station 81 in Arleta spent the day converting their engine company to carry caskets in Saturday’s procession, a company from Station 70 in Northridge covered for them on emergency calls and helped clean Station 81 in preparation for Saturday’s service.

Pilot Steven L. Robinson and crew member Dennis Silgen survived the crash and remain hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center.

“There’s been a lot of sympathy and concern from the community and just a lot of love, really. We are like a big family and we’ve all been very touched by this,” said Capt. Frank David, who paused to flip through a memorial book in which community members had written notes about the firefighters.

One message was from a nurse at nearby Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, where paramedics Butler and Reiner, both 33, often brought injured patients.

“My heart is breaking with the loss of Mike, a dear friend, and Eric, heroes to the core,” she wrote. “My good fortune is that I will always have happy memories of these fine men.”