BENEFITS TO AID WIFE, 2 CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTER; EVENTS SET IN SAUGUS, NORTHRIDGE.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

Roller skaters can help the late Los Angeles fire Capt. Joseph Dupee's young children Friday at a fund-raiser at Mountasia Family Fun Center.

All admission fees collected from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Saugus amusement park will be donated to a fund set up for the children of the 17-year veteran firefighter who died March 8 at a blaze in a Hyde Park industrial building.

Dupee, 38, of Valencia, left his wife, Julie, and two sons, a 3-year-old and a newborn.

``We're hoping anyone who has the time and can coordinate their family schedules to go out a skate,'' said Capt. Steve Ruda, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. ``We want families to come out and enjoy (their) time, and help another family that's in need right now.''

Michael and David Fleming, general partners of Mountasia, have close ties to the peace officer community.

``As former LAPD reserve officers, we have always been close not only to police officers but to our Fire Department,'' Michael Fleming said.

``They both have kids and feel how devastating this is to happen to someone,'' Mountasia spokeswoman Courtney Bourdas said of the Flemings.

The brothers also own Skateland in Northridge and will hold a similar fund-raiser there, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Friday.

``We're very grateful to outside agencies who have heard the call of the family,'' Ruda said.

Bourdas said the event has attracted interest from the community. ``People want to help,'' she said.

Dupee's widow and children will receive Fire Department benefits, Ruda said, but money raised by skaters will help the children over the years.