A procession was held Friday night to honor the Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter who was killed on the job while battling a tractor fire in the Littlerock area in the city of Palmdale.
Andrew Pontious, a 19-year veteran of the force, died while trying to put out flames from a large tractor in a rock quarry at around 2 p.m. when an explosion occurred and killed him, LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said.
It was unclear what caused the explosion.
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Pontious is survived by his spouse and children.
"We extend our condolences & prayers to the family, friends & colleagues of FF Pontious," the department said in a social media post. During a press conference Friday, Marrone described Pontious as a "wonderful man."
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Another firefighter was injured in the fire, but he was treated and expected to be released from the Antelope Valley Hospital Friday evening.
Homicide investigator with the LA County Sheriff's Department will be looking into the cause of the incident, according to the LA County Sheriff's Commander Mark Reyes.
