LOS ANGELES (BN24) — A powerful explosion tore through a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training facility early Friday, killing three veteran deputies from the department’s elite arson and explosives unit in what authorities are investigating as a possible training accident.
The deadly blast occurred around 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Center, located east of downtown Los Angeles. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but early indications suggest it may have occurred during a training exercise, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the case who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
“This is an incredibly tragic day for our department,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in an emotional press briefing. “These three deputies were among our most highly trained professionals. I lost three of my finest today.”
The explosion, which took place in a parking lot area filled with department vehicles and equipment, left no other injuries. Aerial footage from KABC-TV showed three bodies covered with tarps near a sheriff’s truck outfitted with a side ramp. A nearby patrol cruiser had its mirror blown off by the force of the blast.
Sheriff Luna said the three deputies collectively served a total of 74 years in the department and were all part of the arson and explosives detail — a unit that responds to more than 1,000 calls annually. Their names were not immediately released, as Luna had not yet notified one of the families.
“I have spoken to two of the three families, and those conversations were absolutely heartbreaking,” Luna said, visibly shaken. “This is the worst single loss of life in the history of this department since 1857.”
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting sheriff’s homicide detectives with the investigation. The scene remained sealed off for hours as bomb technicians and arson investigators worked to ensure there was no further danger.
California Attorney General Pam Bondi, posting on X, called the explosion a “horrific incident” and confirmed federal agents were at the site. “Please pray for the families of the sheriff’s deputies killed,” she wrote.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city’s fire and police bomb squads were also involved in the investigation. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed he had been briefed and that the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and State Fire Marshal were coordinating closely with local and federal authorities at the scene.
The training facility, named after former Sheriff Eugene W. Biscailuz, is a hub for advanced law enforcement instruction and specialized tactical training. It remains closed as investigators examine the blast site.
The deaths sent shockwaves through the county’s law enforcement community, already strained by staffing shortages and growing public scrutiny. Officials have yet to confirm what type of material exploded or what specific training exercise — if any — was underway at the time.
“This department has endured loss before,” Luna said. “But nothing like this.”
