Malibu Fire Witness Seeks Refuge From the Limelight

As authorities continue their investigation into whether two firefighters started last year’s devastating Calabasas/Malibu fire, a key witness who emerged recently said he is leaving town temporarily to escape the high-pressure atmosphere surrounding the case.

Sources close to the grand jury hearing testimony in the case said Friday that more witnesses will be called. Earlier, authorities had said they expected the grand jury to wrap up its work during two all-day sessions last week. No reason was given for calling the additional witnesses, nor was it disclosed who will testify.

The two suspects--Steven R. Shelp, 29, and Nicholas A. Durepo, 24--appeared before the grand jury and refused to answer questions on the advice of their lawyers, a common practice when grand jury testimony is being used to gather evidence against suspects. Others who know the two men, including a fellow volunteer firefighter who spoke with one of them just hours after the fire, also have testified.

Sheriff Sherman Block has said his department believes Shelp and Durepo started the Nov. 2 fire so that they could extinguish it, become heroes and win permanent jobs with fire departments. At the time, both were volunteer firefighters who had been trying to win highly coveted permanent slots at area fire departments.

Both Shelp and Durepo vehemently deny setting the blaze, which killed three people and caused $350 million in damage, saying they were merely driving by and tried to put it out with a garden hose--with the assistance of a “plumber” who also happened to be passing by.

The “plumber,” actually an underground contractor named Robert Blakeley, said Friday that he and his wife and young son need to escape the limelight that has followed them since he emerged from obscurity 10 days ago to say he was present during the first moments of the fire above Old Topanga Canyon Road. Blakeley said Shelp and Durepo arrived at the scene after he did. He then helped them fight the fire by providing an adapter that allowed them to hook up their garden hose to a nearby fire hydrant.

“I haven’t gotten much sleep, all the late calls and everything,” Blakeley said. “I’m kind of overwhelmed by this whole deal. I’ve received national attention from this.”

Since coming forward after seeing his photograph in The Times, Blakeley has cooperated extensively with the Sheriff’s Department homicide investigators handling the case.

Authorities won’t say whether Blakeley’s testimony will help to exonerate Shelp and Durepo--as the two firefighters have claimed it will--or perhaps answer questions that could strengthen the case against them. Authorities have said they have a strong circumstantial case against the men, but refused to comment Friday on what Blakeley has told them and whether it will have an impact on the case.

“I do have an opinion now (about whether the two firefighters may have started the fire), but I can’t say what it is,” Blakeley said. “They (authorities) have made sure to let me know I’d be in contempt of court if I say anything, anything at all.”

Also on Friday, a father of a volunteer firefighter who has worked closely with Durepo said he is so convinced that the two are innocent that he will organize an effort to help them. Frank Safechuck said many fellow Malibu residents have volunteered money and other assistance on their behalf.

“It looks like their careers are jeopardized because of all of the publicity,” said Safechuck, a Malibu art dealer who opened a bank account Friday with a check for $100 to start the legal defense fund.

“Financially, right now, both young men are devastated by this,” he said. “Absolutely, without a doubt, I believe in the innocence of these two firefighters. I’m not going to take it any longer.”

Shelp, who has since graduated from the Fire Academy and is now a firefighter with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, has been placed on administrative duty until the investigation is completed. Durepo has been taken off active volunteer duty with the Manhattan Beach Fire Department.