Thousands mourn California firefighters

From Sara Weisfeldt
CNN

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(CNN) -- Thousands of people attended a California memorial service Sunday for five men who died fighting the Esperanza Fire, which investigators blame on arson.

Firefighters Mark Loutzenhiser, 44; Jess McLean, 27; Jason McKay, 27; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, died Oct. 26 when the Esperanza flames, fueled by Santa Ana winds, enveloped their engine.

The fifth firefighter, Pablo Cerda, 23, died Oct. 31 at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he had been taken after sustaining burns over 90 percent of his body.

A spokesman for the California Department of Forestry estimated the crowd size at 10,000 to 12,000.

Friends, relatives, other firefighters, members of the communities affected by the fire and politicians, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Reps. Jerry Lewis, Mary Bono and Joe Baca, attended the service, which was held in an amphitheater near the wildfire's path.

Throughout the service, there were many teary eyes and uniformed men with heads bowed.

Beginning and ending the service was a procession of fire trucks, some with etchings in their windows that read, "In Memory of Engine 57 Firefighters." Flowers and giant photographs of the dead decorated the stage.

"They are heroes in the true sense of the word," Schwarzenegger said. "We will never forget their bravery, we would never forget their valor and we will never forget their sacrifice."

"Engine company 57 made the ultimate sacrifice," said Feinstein. "Their heroism will not be forgotten and neither will the sacrifice their families made. These five men were on the front lines protecting thousands of lives and tens of thousands of acres of land when they were overwhelmed by the fires' flames. They are truly heroes."

The first funeral -- for McKay -- was held Friday at the High Desert Church in Victorville.

Another service was held Saturday at a middle school in Idyllwild to honor Loutzenhiser. Afterward, 57 white pigeons were released to represent San Bernardino National Forest Engine 57.

U.S. Forest Service air tankers flew in a missing-man formation over the amphitheater in honor of the dead. A group of helicopters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection also flew over the crowd, with one helicopter peeling off in honor of the dead.

The two-hour service ended as bagpipes played "Amazing Grace" and teary audience members hugged each other before departing.

Last Thursday, Raymond Lee Oyler pleaded not guilty in Riverside Superior Court to five counts of first-degree murder, 11 counts of arson and 10 counts of using an incendiary device.

If convicted, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors said they will decide within 60 days which sentence they will seek.

The 40,200-acre Esperanza Fire was fully contained as of last Monday. The blaze destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings, mainly in the Twin Pines and Poppet Flats areas, which had been under mandatory evacuations.

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