A Los Angeles County firefighter was killed and another was injured Friday in an explosion that leveled an Antelope Valley quarry as fire crews responded to a burning front-end loader, authorities said.
Authorities have not released the names of firefighters or said what caused the explosion, which occurred early in the afternoon in the 6500 block of East Avenue T in the Palmdale area.
Speaking to reporters Friday night, county Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said firefighters were battling flames that had engulfed “a very, very large articulated front-end loader that was working in a quarry” when it occurred. The explosion.
“And I don't know what exploded,” Marrone said during a news conference at Antelope Valley Medical Center.
Marrone said the department would release the name of the firefighter who died later Friday after contacting his family. He described him as a 19-year veteran of the department who had recently been assigned to a four-member fire truck at Station 93 in Palmdale.
“A wonderful man. He was married. He was a father. It’s such a tragedy,” Marrone said.
The commander of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Mark Reyes said the agency's homicide bureau and arson unit had launched a death investigation, but it was too early to say what caused the explosion.
Hours after the explosion, a KTLA-TV Channel 5 helicopter showed firefighters continuing to spray water on the front-end loader.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger offered 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 them our strong support as they face this loss,” he said in a statement. “I am committed to ensuring our fire personnel are connected to the mental health support they need during their grief.”
He said another firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, but is expected to be released Friday night.
Earlier this year, nine Los Angeles city firefighters were injured when a compressed natural gas tank exploded while they were working to extinguish a truck fire.
