firefighter tony vallerio died shortly before 8:00 this morning. tonight, police have been coming by to drop off flowers and cards and to express their condolences. >> present. >> reporter: members of fire engine company 26 stood at attention as the body of 53-year-old tony vallerio was taken out of san francisco general hospital, draped with an american flag. a short time later, tony's sister said she would always remember her brother's unmistakable sense of humor. >> he was full of life. he traveled. he was a great-uncle to my kids. he was -- as i always say, my best brother ever. >> san francisco firefighters are now grieving the deaths of not one but two of their own. tony vallerio and lieutenant vincent perez were both killed after being caught in a flashover or a sudden explosion of heat and flames while fighting a house fire thursday in diamond heights. perez died that same day. vallerio was severely burned and spent two days on a ventilator. >> we try to do everything we can. over time, all these injuries were just too much for him. >> repo

the brother of critical injured firefighter anthony vallerio says his sibling tonight is fighting to survive with burns on 12% of his body. >> they're keeping him medically paralyzed to stabilize his breathing. they've put him in a bed that has him facing to the floor so he can take in more oxygen. >> reporter: san francisco medical hospital says vallerio's stay in the trauma unit will be a roller coaster ride for his family. >> you get good news and you're encourage ed. but then you get some bad news and your discourages, that's how it is. >> reporter: patricia richardson told us her husband was a responsible caring man dedicated to his job. >> i think about all the memories, the fun times with vincent. the graduation, just a lot of good good memories. we had a lot of good memories together. >> reporter: the firefighters are taking a toll tonight on san francisco's firefighters. >> where the department stands, there are 1,700 devastated people. >> reporter: and we learn tonight that funeral services for lieutenant vincent perez are going to be set for friday. next week at san franci

vallerio's family is keeping a vigil, praying for his recovery. >>> a third san francisco firefighter was also injured today. she is identified as tracy courtney and worked out of the noe valley fire department. she was treated and released from the hospital. >>> we will take you to the fire station where two of the firefighter were. you will see the outpouring of support and you will hear from mayor ed lee. >>> tonight we received the dispatch call as the firefighters were trapped in the home. jana katsuyama is live with the recordings and specific details on what went wrong. jana-- >> reporter: that's right frank. let me show you the scene. right now there is tape up blocking the road. you can see the fire engage parked right outside of the house that burned. investigators are still trying to figure out the origin and what caused the fire. four people inside the building managed to get out. fire crews went in but about 15 minutes later, an emergency alarm center sounded from a firefighter equipment. >> come in. we heard an alarm and they haven't contacted us back. you copy that? >>

vallerio's family is keeping a vigil, praying for his recovery. >>> a third san francisco firefighter was also injured today. she is identified as tracy out noe valley fire department. she was treated and released from the hospital. >>> we will take you to the fire station where two of the firefighter were. you will see the outpouring of support and you will hear from mayor ed lee. >>> tonight we received the dispatch call as the firefighters were trapped in the home. jana katsuyama is live with the recordings and specific details on what went wrong. jana-- >> reporter: that's right frank. let me show you the scene. right now there is tape up blocking the road. you can see the fire engage parked right outside of the house that burned. investigators are still trying to figure out the origin and what caused the fire. four people inside the building managed to get out. fire crews went in but about 15 minutes later, an emergency alarm center sounded from a firefighter equipment. >> come in. we heard an alarm and they haven't contacted us back. you copy that? >> i copy that. >> i need two

. >>> tonight the vallerio family is trying to hold on to hope. >> it's pretty calm. everybody is trying to stay upbeat. we still have no idea whether it's going to go one way or the other. >> reporter: a memorial service is set for the end of next week. coming up at 6:00, we'll talk to some of the doctors who are working this evening to save anthony ballerio. david stevenson, ktvu news. >>> and we go to rob roth, he tells us what he's learned from firefighters. >> reporter: as you can see the area is still sealed off. investigators have been here pretty much all day. while several firefighters are telling us whether it took too long to go in and rescue the firefighters. looking at the char on the house it's hard to imagine such an inferno inside. official results are that the home caught fire after curtains caught fire. >> this is very quick, very, very quick after that house erupted very quickly. and the smoke was as you can see from the photos, it was just a lot of black smoke. >> reporter: on the radio dispatch you can hear lieutenant perez. >> engine 26, come in,

anthony vallerio and vincent perez were overcome by smoke and fire at a house fire in the die min heights neighborhood. perez died the day of the fire. the san francisco fire department now tells us a vigil for both men will take place this thursday at 7:00 at st. mary's cathedral. on friday, a funeral will take place. that's set for 12:30 in the afternoon. stay with us for the latest on the investigation into the deadly fire. just go to ktvu.com and click on the sf firefighter tab on the front page. >>> happening right now in oakland, the city officials are unveiling their own radio system for police and firefighters. they are designed to give clear, reliable reseptembertion in owl parts -- recenttion in all part -- reception in all parts of the county. >>> apple's ceo made a rare public appearance in san francisco. steve jobs is on medical leave but he wanted to take part in the unveiling of new products. jade hernandez is live with the appearance and the announcement. >> reporter: make no mistake, the excitement was over the man considered a rock czar. he took the stage two hours -- wh

translate into one of the biggest funerals the city has ever seen. 48-year-old vincent perez and anthony vallerio died last thursday. the firefighters will be honored during a memorial service thursday night and a funeral friday morning at st. mary's cathedral. a department spokesman says judging from the number of people coming to pay respects and the phone calls received from around the globe, the department is already making plans to deal with an overcapacity crowd altogether the funeral. >> i don't even doubt that there will be -- there are going to be people out in the streets and there will be fire rigs out in the streets and there will be traffic delays. >> flowers aren't the only items people are dropping off, the san jose fire department showed up today to barbecue enough food to feed 200 people, including the victims' families. >>> important court decisions, undocumented students will continue to get a tuition break at uc campuses. the supreme court refused to review a policy that allows illegal immigrants to pay the same in-state tuition as other students living in state. out of state

thousands paying their final respects to perez and vallerio. it was an eventful of dedication.es sharing their memories. it was an event full of dedication. >> he had a passion for the job and he was naturally people person. he would walk into a chaotic scene, pick up the pieces bring sanity and levity to an otherwise intense and dangerous situation. >> make no mistake that these men are gladiators' they fight fire. one of the most of strongest forces created by god. to my brother, now, you are free i will see you again but not yet, not yet. it (cheers & applause) (music) organ >> isabel: firefighters from as far away as canada, france, ireland, that came to pay their respects. >> some of the uniforms after the services friends, family, fire fighters took part in a dramatic procession. processiontaco to tacoma the final procession. >> reporter: the fallen firefighters at holy cross cemetery at 5:30 the caskets each were adorned with the american flag. each fire truck was followed with several of vehicles carrying their families. the procession followed and a line that seemed to

anthony vallerio died two days after the fire. he was a 14-year veteran of the department. them and a fire suddenly ignites reaching temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees. a third firefighter suffered smoke asat tretionnd wedas tated and released. >>> a look at your torcast and the commute right after this. >>> good morning to you. that suborn marine layer overhead and temperatures so mild i thought we could possibly hit the 670s but i don't think it's going anywhere. 55 degrees at noon when that cloud deck starts to break apart. the sun will shine through and warm us up to about 60 degrees and that's your high in the city and temperatures else where in the mid to upper 60s. let's check your drive with mike. >> far side of the screen right here, 680 south from 24 and otherwise approaching the maze not very far. live look at the toll plaza shows you gray skies and, actually, the backup is moving. that's good news for folks approaching the area. watch that lane change at the bottom of the screen, though. golden gate bridge, as well. we have that cloud deck and she said it w