In a tragic event that has shaken the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to its core, three veteran deputies from the departments elite Arson and Explosives Detail were killed in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on the morning of July 18, 2025. The incident, which occurred around 7:30 a.m., marks the deadliest single loss of life for the department since 1857, underscoring the inherent dangers faced by those who serve on the front lines of bomb disposal and explosive ordnance handling.
The deputies, whose names have not been released out of respect for their families, had a combined 74 years of service, with individual tenures of 19, 22, and 33 years. Sheriff Robert Luna described them as the best of the best, highlighting their extensive training and expertise within a unit that responds to more than 1,000 calls annually involving potentially hazardous explosives and arson investigations.
According to law enforcement sources, the explosion happened while the deputies were moving undetonated ordnance that had been collected the previous night in Santa Monica. The devices were brought back to the Biscailuz Training Facility for further handling. It was initially believed the explosive device was inert, but tragically it detonated during transport in the training centers parking lot, a space that also houses sheriffs patrol vehicles and bomb squad trucks.
Aerial footage captured the aftermath, showing a sheriffs vehicle with shattered rear windows and a damaged tarp covering bomb trucks. Nearby, three covered bodies lay close to a truck equipped with a ramp, and glass shards littered the asphalt, evidence of the blasts force. Despite the severity of the explosion, no other individuals were injured.
The cause of the blast remains under investigation, but early indications suggest it was an accidental detonation during the handling of military-style ordnance. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger stated, all roads lead back to that, emphasizing the likelihood of a tragic accident. Sheriff Luna cautioned that a thorough investigation could take weeks or even months, noting, I would be very irresponsible to try and answer a lot of these questions without the information that I need to positively give you facts and I dont have the facts yet.
The response to the explosion was swift and coordinated. The Los Angeles Police Departments bomb squad arrived on the scene shortly after 8:45 a.m. to assist in rendering other potential explosives safe, a process that took several hours. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the State Fire Marshals office were also involved in the ongoing investigation, highlighting the gravity and complexity of the incident.
Authorities described the arson and explosives unit as one of the largest and busiest in the United States, routinely handling a wide array of ordnance ranging from World War I relics to modern commercial explosives and improvised devices. Former members and experts have underscored the demanding nature of the job, which requires at least a year of formal training followed by years of field experience to achieve proficiency. The units daily operations are fraught with danger, as assessing the stability of aged or unknown materials is inherently challenging.
The explosion has sent shockwaves through the local community and law enforcement agencies alike. Flags at county buildings were lowered to half-staff in mourning. Two of the fallen deputies had also provided security at county board meetings, a reminder of their dedication beyond their hazardous specialty. Colleagues and friends expressed profound grief and respect; Jason Zabala, a deputy on the sheriffs SWAT team and a close friend, said, I can think of no greater honor, truly, than to die in the service of people.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. County Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Hilda Solis, and Janice Hahn issued statements expressing condolences to the families and emphasizing support for the sheriffs department during this difficult time. Gov. Gavin Newsoms office confirmed that the Governor has been briefed and that the Governors Office of Emergency Services is closely monitoring the situation, while also deploying investigative personnel to assist.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the explosion a horrific incident and urged prayers for the families of the deputies. Federal agents remain on site to aid in the investigation, which is being led by the LASD homicide detectives with federal assistance.
The Biscailuz Center Training Academy itself, located at 1060 North Eastern Avenue, is a 36,000-square-foot facility that was renovated and reopened in 2017. It serves as a hub for the sheriffs special enforcement bureau, including the bomb squad and arson explosives detail. The center was originally used for deputy training from 1946 until 1984 but was closed due to space constraints before its recent reopening.
This tragedy recalls past deadly incidents in Southern California involving law enforcement and explosives, including the 1986 North Hollywood bomb defusal deaths and the 2021 27th Street Explosion in South Los Angeles. Sheriff Luna referenced the departments history, noting the last comparable loss of life was in 1857 when Sheriff James Barton and three deputies were killed by outlaws.
As the investigation continues, the community and the department grapple with the loss of three highly trained, dedicated deputies who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. Their sacrifice serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers inherent in bomb disposal work and the courage of those who face such risks daily to protect others.
