Fallen LA County firefighters honored as their names are inscribed on memorial wall

Officials expected to attend the ceremony included L.A. County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone, representatives from the L.A. County Fire Department Memorial Committee, the International Association of Firefighters Local 1014, and the Los Angeles County Association of Chiefs for the 2025 Firefighters’ Memorial Service.

The ceremony honored five personnel from the Los Angeles County Fire Department who died while on active duty, from natural causes, or for unspecified reasons, including:

— Firefighter Andrew Pontious, who died in the line of duty on June 14

— Firefighter Ulysses Duran, who passed away on Jan. 4, 2024 due to unspecified causes

— Firefighter-Paramedic Joseph Gandara, who died on Nov. 3, 2023, from complications related to cancer

— Firefighter Specialist William “Bill” Lenzen, who passed away on Dec. 28, 2023 due to unspecified causes

— Capt. Kenneth E. Renz, who lost his life to cancer on April 29, 2023

“This annual memorial service pays homage to the life and legacy of brave, fallen members who made the ultimate sacrifice,” the L.A. County Fire Department said in a statement.

Pontious was assigned to Fire Station 93 in Palmdale and served the department and community for 19 years.

Duran retired from the L.A. County Fire Department after 23 years of dedicated service. He was also a veteran of the United States Army.

Gandara served 35 years with the L.A. County Fire Department, working at Fire Station 3 in East Los Angeles.

Lenzen joined the L.A. County Fire Department in 1983 and was promoted to Fire Specialist in 1994, serving the department for 35 years before retiring in 2019.