(L.A.) Andrew Pontious, 52, Died From an Explosion

Case Number: 2024-09588

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 52-year-old White/Caucasian male that occurred at a cement yard.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Andrew Pontious.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Blast Injuries

RIP ANDREW PONTIOUS (September 17, 1971 – June 14, 2024)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday at 2:20 p.m.

The decedent was a LACoFD firefighter. He was injured while battling a fire at a quarry near Palmdale. There was an explosion of unclear origin.

Crews had been sent to the 6500 block of East Avenue, a rock quarry near the Pearblossom Highway, for a truck fire in the area.

REFERENCE ADDRESS
Los Angeles County Fire Department
6500 E Avenue T, Palmdale, CA 93552

OSHA NARRATIVE

Employee fatally injured in pneumatic loader tire explosion

At approximately 2:08 p.m., LACFD was called out to assist with a front-end loader on fire.

As the firefighters were combating the fire, the left rear tire of the loader exploded, fatally injuring Employee #1.

Employee #1 was standing approximately 3 to 5 feet from the tire at the time of the explosion.

The blast caused debris to be ejected over 300 feet, breaking the driver’s side window of Fire Engine 93 (FE93).

A coworker, also a firefighter, who was near Employee #1, was also injured by the explosion and was taken to a trauma center for evaluation but was released later.

Employee #1, with 19 years of experience, was wearing full personal protective equipment, including a self-contained breathing apparatus.

The explosion was caused by increased internal pressure in the tire from the fire and the ignition of flammable compounds.

A citation was issued to the employer for failure to provide proper hazard identification, evaluation, and training on large equipment tire explosion risks.

Contested Penalty: $25,000