FESTIVAL OF THANKS THOUSANDS SALUTE CITY'S FIREFIGHTERS IN THE VALLEY.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS - More than 2,000 people turned out Thursday to support Los Angeles' city firefighters at the first Grateful Hearts Street Festival.

Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who hailed the firefighters as a ``department without peer in the United States,'' expressed the community's thanks to the fire crews and Fire Chief William Bamattre.

``You can't help but be prideful of their dedication, commitment, courage, their steadfastness and their belief in doing everything they can to save lives,'' Villaraigosa said.

He described how he watched firefighters handle a series of emergencies, from the Topanga and Castaways wildfires in late September to the emergency landing of a crippled JetBlue plane at Los Angeles International Airport earlier that month. Many also traveled to New Orleans to assist rescue operations after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in August.

``Not only are they here for us every time we call on them, they're there for people a thousand miles away,'' Villaraigosa said.

Sponsored by Douglas Emmett and Co. and a host of area businesses and restaurants, the Warner Center event on Oxnard Street was designed to honor the firefighters for their hard work and also raise money for them.

``You'd have to be living under a rock not to know that budgets are being cut,'' making it harder for cities to provide firefighters with everything they need, said Jordan Kaplan, principal and CFO for Douglas Emmett.

Firefighters barbecued chicken, ribs and tri-tip while restaurants including Ruth's Chris Steak House, Baja Bud's, Maggiano's, Poquito Mas, Starbucks and Kate Mantilini's sold an assortment of sandwiches, salads and drinks. Trimana gave away bottles of its hot pepper and jalapeno sauces, but sold bottles of water for $1.

Proceeds from food ticket sales went to the Firemen's Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefighters Fund and the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association. People also could buy firefighter T-shirts, sweat shirts and other merchandise from the Dalmatian's Fire House booth, or bid on items ranging from a firefighter's helmet autographed by Villaraigosa and Bamattre to a ride on the city's new fireboat in San Pedro with dinner for four.

Imre Sallai, 47, of Beverly Hills and Eric Patt, 28, of Woodland Hills said they weren't in any danger from the wildfires but they could see the smoke and flames from their fourth-floor offices at AIG Sun America, where they work as analysts.

``They do everything they can do,'' Sallai said as he finished his lunch. ``They risk their lives. We can't ask for anything more.''

Firefighter John Garnica, 40, of Murrieta, who helped fight the Topanga Fire as it spread to Bell Canyon, said the event meant a lot to firefighters.

``It's one thing to be protecting someone's home and have one or two people come out and thank you, but to have the whole community come out and thank you is very nice,'' Garnica said. ``And it's thanks for everything we do.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Los Angeles Firefighters John Garnica, left, and David Gastelum applaud during Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's speech at Warner Center.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer