Emergency personnel reportedly rushed a second firefighter, whose condition was unknown, to Antelope Valley Hospital.
June 14, 2024 at 5:46 PM PDT | Updated June 14, 2024 at 5:48 PM PDT
LITTLE ROCK, Calif. — A Los Angeles County firefighter was killed Friday and another firefighter was hospitalized in unknown condition after an explosion while fighting a fire at a Little Rock quarry.
Firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the 7300 block of Pear Blossom Highway around 2 p.m. They found a large front loader or tractor spewing flames near an isolated dirt area.
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Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion killed one firefighter at the scene and injured another.
Footage broadcast from the scene showed a body draped in the flag lying on a large pile of earth near the burning vehicle.
KCAL 9 reported from the scene that an ambulance appeared to have taken at least one other person to the hospital, but it wasn’t immediately confirmed if there were any other injuries.
After the explosion, the vehicle continued to burn as remaining firefighters kept a safe distance.
County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone and Dave Girotte, president of the firefighters union Local 1014, are scheduled to hold a news conference outside Antelope Valley Medical Center at 6 p.m. to discuss the firefighter’s death.
City News Service contributed to this report.