MSHA Safety Alert-Tire Explosion During Equipment Fire

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SOURCE: MSHA | January 3, 2025

On June 14, 2024, at 2:08 p.m., Andrew Pontious, a 52 year-old firefighter, with 19 years of firefighting experience, died while fighting a fire on a front-end loader.  The front-end loader’s left rear tire exploded, and the force struck the firefighter.

The accident occurred because Pontious was approximately four feet from the tire when a combustion explosion occurred.  The fire on the front-end loader heated the tire and caused a buildup of flammable gases inside the tire, which were ignited.  Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) issued a report, LAC 24-203895, which designated this as a line of duty death.

Best Practices:

In the event of a possible or actual fire (e.g., odor, heat, smoke, flames):

  • Stop the machine, lower all attachments, set the parking brake, and turn the equipment off.
  • Actuate the machine-mounted fire suppression system, if available.
  • Safely exit the machine and retreat to a safe location, preferably 1,000 feet away.
  • Warn all others in the vicinity of the fire, notify management, and contact appropriate emergency personnel.
  • Do not attempt to extinguish a tire fire with a hand-held extinguisher.
  • Wait for emergency responders to arrive. Stay clear of the fire.
  • From a distance, emergency personnel can use a fire or water truck to cool down the equipment. (See SAE J2828NOV2016 – Off-Road Tire Handling Guidelines.)

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