. >> another firefighter who you see there, anthony valero, was also seriously hurt in the fire. he's 53 years old, also a paramedic. he's still in critical condition this morning at san francisco general with severe burns and his lungs are damaged from all of the smoke. >>> years ago, another san francisco firefighter survived similar injuries. melanie sapper was caught in a fire back in 1995. the oxygen was so hot that it burned her lungs. she was also burned over 40% of her body and suffered brain damage that caused partial blindness. sapper says since thursday, she has not stopped thinking about firefighter anthony valero. >> i always like to let them know that i do have empathy and there is somebody there who totally understands what it's like, understands what it's like to be there. >> and survive. >> yeah. you know, it's a long haul. it's a long haul for people around me, too. >> she spent nearly three months on life support, but she was finally released from the hospital after four months. then she had to undergo speech therapy and relearn simple things like getting into

an unexpected explosion. 53-year-old anthony valero is still in critical condition.is brother told us he has burns over 12% of his body and was placed on a ventilator. >> pretty gruesome. you know, no one wants to see it. but, you know, you have to. i had to say him, had to talk to him for a minute. i don't know if he could hear me, but had to say pull through. my mom did the same thing. my mom is struggling to keep it together. >> reporter: he says that doctors are most worried about his lungs, because the mass that he was wearing actually melted. his mask. firefighter tracy courtney was treated for smoke inhalation and released. chief white saying about perez, he will be sorely missed, and our prayers are with the family, and are very much grieving this loss. that's the latest from here, reporting live in san francisco, christie smith, "today in the east bay." >> breaks your heart. thank you very much, christie. >>> firefighters are saying this morning that diamond heights fire was especially dangerous because of a sudden ignition that caused a room to burst into f

. >> to those who led lieutenant vincent perez and firefighter paramedic anthony valero. >> it's a tribute to the perez and valero families but we're bolstered as to the amount of uniforms and amount of people here paying their last respects to vincent tony. >> we have expeeshtszed a great loss. >> even stranger, like canadian firefighter mark mcgray came. >> it's a brotherhood that spans a all of north america. >> in total more than 6,000 flocked to st. mary's cathedral in san francisco. to remember perez. >> vince was the fireman's fire, he was big, he was strong, he was aggressive, and he was one of the best. >> and valero. >> he was a pony tail hippy who called himself the people's paramedic. >> two very different men who shared the same calling. >> make no mistake, these men are gladiators, they night fire, one of the most powerful forces created by god to save laifs. >> they were killed battling what was supposed to be a routine house fire in diamond heights last week. >> what i couldn't shake is that i wanted to be in that house with my brother. and i say that with all apologies to

. >> i'd just like to officially thank vincent perez and anthony a valero for their service. >> alan: governor brownish you'd a statement. and spoke on behalf of his wife, anne, saying we send our deep con doll -- condolences as the mourn the passing of the firefighters. the governor says in honor of the men, flags will be flown at half staff at the capital. >> san francisco fire chief says the department is now reviewing procedures and tactics used by firefighters on thursday to in figure out what happened. a flashover inside the house killed the men. oxygen starved flames ignited the room there are two investigations into the fire. one by the san francisco fire and police department and the county district attorney's office. >> a recordbreaking amounts of rain have doused the bay area, creating a few problems. a tree toppled on to a chevy suburban in santa rosa, there was another downed tree on frank avenue, and the fess festival in walnut creek went on, and in the fair in on -- antioch, people trudged the mud in san francisco, the rain failed to dampen the spirits of people at the

firefighter anthony valero, he is in a battle for his life still this morning he remains in critical anthony valerio is in intensive care. we understand he suffered burns as well as smoke inhalation. as you mentioned, this fire quickly grew to an inferno within a matter of seconds. our crews were there. we have video of it just as the fire first broke out. the flames moved so quickly in fact that three firefighters were hurt in what is being called a flashover. that's heat so intense, that it burns at 1100 degrees fahrenheit. basically, that means the room literally ignited around them. it moved too quickly to safety life of lieutenant vincent perez, 21-year veteran of san francisco fire. a former marine and a previous alameda county sheriff's deputy. with a final salute, his fellow firefighters said good-bye to the 48-year-old. his body was gurneyed out of san francisco general. lots of grief this morning for the men and women of station 26. >> he was a great guy. he just always lightened up the mood at the firehouse. he had a good sense of humor and as a firefighter, he was always

. >>> san francisco firefighter anthony valero is fighting for his life this morning.s of his fellow firefighters came to visit him at san francisco general yesterday. some brought food for his family members, who continue to hold a bedside vigil. those family members say there is no change in his condition. he remains on life support and is being treated for burns to 12% of his body. >> cooled down, they're going to warm him up, and they're going to bring in a neurologist to see what the extent of some of his damages are, if anything brain-wise is bad. >> his colleague from engine 26 vincent perez died battling the fire in diamond heights. funeral service for him will take place friday at st. mary's cathedral. >>> questions surround the circumstances of that fire, but there may be some answers in the dispatch audiotapes that recorded some of fire lieutenant perez's last words. >> dispatchers and a chief tried minutes late to communicate with him, but got no response. that's when a second crew enter the home. the photos from a neighbor show the difficult conditions fir