A Los Angeles County firefighter was killed and another was injured Friday in an explosion at an Antelope mine as firefighters responded to a burning magazine, authorities said.
Authorities have identified the firefighter who died as Andrew Pontius, a veteran of nearly two decades in the fire service who was recently assigned to a four-man fire truck at Station 93 in Palmdale.
“A wonderful man. He was married. He was a father. “This is a tragedy,” said county Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
As of Friday evening, authorities had not released any details about the cause of the explosion, which occurred early in the afternoon in the 6500 block of East T Avenue in the Palmdale area.
Andrew Pontius, a Los Angeles County firefighter, was a veteran of nearly two decades in the fire service.
(Los Angeles County Fire Department)
Speaking to reporters Friday night, Marrone said firefighters were battling “a very, very large loader that was working in the mine” when the explosion occurred.
“And I don’t know what exploded,” Marrone said during a news conference at Antelope Valley Medical Center.
The commander of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Mark Reyes said the agency’s homicide unit has opened an investigation into the death, but it is too early to say what caused the explosion.
Hours after the explosion, KTLA-TV Channel 5’s helicopter showed firefighters continuing to spray water on the front-end loader.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed her condolences to the firefighter’s family and colleagues and said his death was “a sobering reminder of the dangers our first responders face every day.”
“We owe it to them to deal with this loss,” he said in a statement.
“I am committed to ensuring our firefighters are connected to mental health support when they are distressed.”
In a statement, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said Pontius leaves behind his wife and stepdaughter.
An overview of the area where one Los Angeles County firefighter was killed and another injured in an explosion Friday.
(KTLA)
Another firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries but is expected to be released, Barger said.
Earlier this year, nine Los Angeles cities Firefighters were injured when the compressed gas tank exploded while the truck fire was being extinguished.
