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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and federal law enforcement partners are investigating the cause of a devastating explosion Friday morning that left multiple deputies dead at the agency’s Special Enforcement Bureau in East Los Angeles.
The blast, which occurred at the Biscailuz Training Facility just after 7:30 a.m., killed three deputies assigned to the arson explosives detail.
The fallen deputies, whose identities have not yet been released, had a combined 74 years of service, according to L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.
No other injuries were reported, and there is no threat to the community, according to Luna.
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Sources said the explosion was not part of a planned training exercise, and it appears the incident occurred while deputies were moving ordnance on the training facility property.
However, they noted it is uncommon for the arson and explosives detail to use live ordnance, so it is unclear what exploded.
It is also unknown if the blast happened within the suspected arson and explosives truck, or beside it.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Los Angeles and L.A. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the “post-blast portion” of the incident, according to Luna. Homicide detectives also responded to the scene.
The tragedy marked the largest loss of life within the department since 1857.
“If you’re familiar with our Special Enforcement Bureau, they’re the best of the best. The individuals who work on our arson explosives detail have years of training,” Luna said. “They average about 1,100 [calls] per year, so these aren’t people who don’t do this very often. They are fantastic experts, and unfortunately, I lost three of them today. … There are other law enforcement agencies who have bomb techs, not only around the country, around the world, that want to know what happened here. We want to make sure that we don’t repeat this.”
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Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in a series of X posts that she spoke with Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, and the LASD sheriff regarding the “horrific incident.”
“I just spoke to @USAttyEssayli about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles,” Bondi wrote. “Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more. Please pray for the families of the sheriff’s deputies killed.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed DHS is working with state and federal law enforcement in relation to the incident.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed and offered full state assistance to the sheriff’s office, according to a statement.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott confirmed LAFD’s arson and ATF members are assisting with the investigation.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass offered the city’s support in an X post.
“The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of those impacted by this blast,” Bass wrote.
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also weighed in on social media, offering his family’s prayers.
“Any loss of life in law enforcement is a sad and difficult circumstance,” Kemp wrote in a post. “Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by the tragedy at the @LASDHQ Sheriff’s Office and are praying for the families of those killed in today’s accident.”
Fox News Digital’s Tessa Hoyos contributed to this report.
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