Two people were killed when they were caught in an explosion inside a World War-II era tank at an Oregon firing range Tuesday afternoon, authorities report.

The blast occurred just after 3 p.m. at the firing range located about 25 miles east of Bend, Oregon State Police confirmed, according to the New York Daily News.

Authorities and paramedics soon arrived on the scene and found the two who were caught in the blast. They remain unnamed. One of the victims was reportedly dead by the time they arrived, while the other one was barely alive.

"One of the victims was still alive, and they were able to speak with that victim," Sheriff Shane Nelson told KTVZ-TV.

Nelson said the Bend Fire Department had taken measures to save the other victim's life but failed.

He later mentioned that a camera crew was at the scene, filming the tank at the time of the explosion, which he believes could prove useful during the investigation, USA Today reported.

"As to what they were filming or why they were filming, those details haven't been found out yet," Nelson told KTVZ.

Detectives from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police Arson and Explosives Section have launched a joint investigation to determine what caused the explosion.