PHOENIX — Investigators are looking for two men who ran off after an armed burglary at a fire station Thursday night, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Phoenix police initially reported firefighters saw a man breaking into their fire engine in the fenced station yard near Dobbins Road and 43rd Avenue.
But turns out, it was a fire department employee's truck that was being broken into, according to the sheriff's office.
Some firefighters saw what was happening and approached the two suspects. They started to run off when one suspect turned around, pulled out a gun and started shooting at the firefighters, according to deputies.
None of firefighters were hit by the gunfire, but they were still shaken up.
"We are very relieved and feel very fortunate that none of our members were injured during last night's incident. We will continue to work closely with MCSO in assisting in anyway possible during this investigation," a Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson wrote in a statement.
The two suspects were last seen running away southbound. Police set up a perimeter but could not find the suspects.
Phoenix Fire spokesman Rob McDade couldn’t talk about the specifics of the case because the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation but he tells 12 News that the shooting came as a shock.
"We don’t expect to come back from a call to be faced with just a hail of gunfire directed at our individuals at our home. For us to be attacked at our home … is jarring for us," said McDade
"I can guarantee that across Phoenix fire stations, there’s been discussions on how do we take care of ourselves," said McDade.
McDade says that Phoenix Fire will take a close look at how they’re protecting their personnel.
"We already have fences, self-closing gates and doors that lock, but we need to look at other ways we can protect our members -- and we will," said McDade.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office.