FIREFIGHTER ALWAYS SHUNNED AWARDS FINALLY, HONORED BY FRIENDS.

Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY 

The funeral procession Wednesday for Los Angeles Fire Capt. Lane Kemper stretched a mile down Rinaldi Street, and his memorial service drew more than 1,800 mourners to a Porter Ranch church designed to hold 1,500.

Finally, his colleagues were able to demonstrate their respect and admiration for the 54-year-old firefighter who lost his battle with cancer last week, leaving behind his wife, Rose, and twin 10-year-old daughters, Kaylan and Kelsey.

``Lane never wanted the accolades for himself, never sought the spotlight, although he certainly deserved it,'' said Battalion Chief Leonard Thompson, standing in the foyer of the overflowing Shepherd of the Hills Church.

Nearby, there were enlarged photographs of Kemper making rescues from burning buildings and braving the fast-moving current in the Los Angeles River to save a dog stranded during a rainstorm.

``Lane was the kind of guy who always shifted the credit to someone else for a rescue or saving a life -- the first firefighter in and the last one out,'' said Capt. Steve Ruda.

When the 1,800 firefighters in attendance were asked to stand if they had been taught anything by Kemper, just about everyone stood, including Fire Chief William Bamattre.

``He was nominated twice for Firefighter of the Year, but refused to accept the awards because he felt he was just doing his job,'' said Capt. Steve Romas.

``Lane helped raise over $1 million for our Widows and Orphans Fund through charity events he established, and he wrote the book on teaching firefighters all over the country on forcible-entry techniques.''

During the course of his 31-year career, Kemper could have worked at any station in the city. But he chose to stay at Fire Station 10, near Staples Center downtown.

``It's the busiest, toughest station in the city, and that's where Lane wanted to be,'' Ruda said. ``That's the kind of guy he was.

``We were fighting a fire at an auto body shop downtown at 4:30 one morning when Lane yelled out we had to move fast because one of the walls was about to collapse.

``None of us saw the small cracks forming in the wall, but Lane did. He saved five lives that morning -- mine included,'' Ruda said.

That's how you get a mile-long funeral procession in your honor and fill a church beyond capacity.

RIP, Lane. You were a true hero.

dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Lane Kemper's casket is carried to a waiting firetruck after a memorial service for him Wednesday in Porter Ranch. Kemper died of cancer last week.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

(2) Fire Chief William Bamattre presents the flag that covered Capt. Lane Kemper's casket to the firefighter's wife Rose at a graveside ceremony Wednesday.

(3 -- 4) Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Dan McMurty plays taps, right, from atop a boulder. The graveside ceremony for Fire Department Capt. Lane Kemper, far right, was Wednesday in Chatsworth.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer