A Los Angeles County (CA) firefighter was killed and another was injured while battling a truck fire at a quarry, according to news reports.
The incident occurred Friday, June 14, 2024, and involved a response to a site near the Pearblossom Highway, CBS News reports.
An explosion occurred, killing Firefighter Andrew Pontious and sending another member to a nearby hospital.
Firefighter Pontious was assigned to Fire Station 93 in the City of Palmdale and served the department for 19 years, according to a social media release from the department. He leaves behind a wife and stepdaughter.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said firefighters were engaged with fighting a fire that had engulfed a large articulated front loader that was working in a quarry when the explosion occurred.
The fire is under investigation.
A fire earlier this year left nine City of Los Angeles firefighters injured when a compressed natural gas tank exploded during a semi-truck fire.
