California Highway Patrol and sheriffs block off the Old Road with access to Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, Calif, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. A fire occurred at a mobile shooting range that resulted in two deputies being seriously injured.Photo:David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP
David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP
Two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies were seriously injured Tuesday morning following a fire inside a mobile shooting range trailer during training, authorities said.
The incident occurred at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, California, said Sheriff Robert Luna ata press conferencelater Tuesday, adding that the two deputies were inside the trailer when the fire broke out.
Luna did not identify the names of the deputies, as their family members were still being notified, other than saying that one of them had been with the department for 17 years and the other had served for 21 years.
The two deputies were later taken to Los Angeles General Medical center for additional treatment, per theAssociated Press.
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department officials said that the deputies were the only two people in the mobile range trailer when the blaze occurred, adding that they are expected to survive,The Los Angeles Timesreported.
Luna also added that mobile shooting ranges countywide had been temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution while authorities assessed the situation that occurred inside the trailer and at the detention center. He also said that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s arson and explosive detail will investigate the origin of the fire.
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“It is extremely early in the investigation to determine the cause of this fire,” Luna told reporters, “and the investigators will continue to do so when it is safe to enter the mobile range. Unfired ammunition is still within the area of the mobile range and poses extreme danger for investigators and first responders at this time. Once the materials and debris have cooled, the investigation will resume.”
Luna later added: “We don’t want this to happen again. We need to know why it happened and get to the bottom of it so we prevent it from happening again.”
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told PEOPLE that there are no new details surrounding the incident.
In posts shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Lunawrote: “When I heard about our Deputies being injured, my team and I rushed to the local hospital. Assistant Sheriff Aloma, executive staff and I met with the Deputies’ families and with our responding personnel.”
“I told their families and partners they have our full and unwavering support thanking them for their quick response," hecontinued. “My heart and prayers are with our two Deputies, family and friends during this difficult time. I am asking our community to pray and support our Deputies.”
source: people.com
