ATF’s National Response Teams for Arson and Explosions

| by Max Soni

Last Updated on: 17th September 2023, 10:22 pm

ATF’s National Response Teams: Rapidly Responding to Arson and Explosions Across the U.S.

When a large fire, explosion, or bombing devastates a community, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has specially trained teams ready to respond and assist local investigators. These are the ATF’s National Response Teams (NRTs) – groups of veteran special agents with expertise in reconstructing fire and explosion scenes to determine the origin and cause. NRTs are available to provide assistance to state and local agencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

History and Formation of the National Response Teams

The ATF has a long history of investigating arson and explosives cases. In the 1970s, the agency set up arson task forces in cities with high rates of arson fires. These task forces brought together ATF agents; local police and fire investigators; prosecutors; and other federal agencies. They used a coordinated approach and the latest techniques to tackle arson and bring perpetrators to justice.

By 1978, arson had become a national epidemic. Fires were devastating communities across the U.S. ATF saw the need for a national-level response and formed the first National Response Teams that year. The goal was to have specially trained teams that could rapidly deploy anywhere in the country when their unique expertise was needed. Initially two teams were created, soon expanding to three teams covering the Eastern, Central and Western U.S.

The First National Response Team Call-Out

The first major incident NRTs responded to was in May 1979 – a huge fire in Shelby, North Carolina that destroyed most of the downtown area. Five people were killed, 31 injured, and over $5 million in damage caused. The NRT agents worked side-by-side with state and local investigators. Their work led to the arrest of two suspects on felony murder charges.

This first NRT activation was a success. It validated the concept that these skilled teams could provide invaluable support during the crucial early stages of an investigation. Their technical expertise helped local agencies quickly determine the fire’s origin and gather evidence to identify perpetrators.

National Response Team Operations

Today there are four National Response Teams stationed across the U.S. These teams have accumulated decades of experience responding to all types of arson and explosives incidents. Some details on how NRTs operate:

• NRTs are activated through the ATF Special Operations Division at ATF headquarters. This ensures proper coordination during multi-agency responses.
• The teams can deploy within 24 hours of the initial request for assistance.
• They typically dispatch 15-20 specially trained agents to a scene who can stay up to a week.
• All NRT members are veteran ATF special agents with extensive expertise in fire, arson, and explosives.
• Each team has special agent certified fire investigators (SA-CFIs), explosives specialists, forensic chemists, forensic mapping specialists, accelerant and explosives detection canines, and other technical experts.
• NRTs are self-sustained – they bring a customized tractor-trailer stocked with specialized equipment to support their response.

Providing Investigative Support

The main role of an NRT is to work alongside state and local agencies in the evidence collection process. Their goal is to provide support and expertise, not take over investigations. NRTs focus on the following key tasks:

• Examining the scene and identifying the origin and cause of the fire or explosion.
• Collecting, documenting, and preserving evidence from the scene.
• Conducting interviews of witnesses and suspects.
• Providing investigative leads to identify perpetrators.
• Assisting with the prosecution of suspects.

NRT agents utilize the latest techniques and technology when processing scenes. This includes laser scanning, computer modeling, drones, video analysis, and accelerant detection canines. Their specialized expertise helps reconstruct what happened and gather crucial evidence.

Documenting the Scene

Thorough scene documentation is a critical part of NRT investigations. Agents extensively photograph and diagram explosion/fire scenes. Key steps include:

• Photographing from all angles before evidence is moved or altered.
• Creating panoramic photographs to provide views of the entire scene.
• Producing highly detailed scene diagrams mapping critical evidence.
• Making videos compiling photos and diagrams into 3D walkthroughs.

This provides a permanent record of the scene and evidence as originally found. It also helps investigators determine how the incident occurred and spread.

Collecting Evidence

NRTs use the latest techniques and equipment when gathering evidence, including:

• Using metal detectors, magnometers, and ground penetrating radar to locate buried evidence.
• Employing advanced laser scanning technology to produce 3D models of the scene.
• Collecting debris samples to identify explosive materials used.
• Using specially trained canines to detect minute traces of accelerants.
• Recovering pieces of devices or containers to identify the ignition method.

Evidence is carefully preserved and sent to ATF laboratories for analysis. NRTs utilize ATF’s forensic capabilities, including fire debris analysis, explosives examinations, and latent print analysis.

Types of Incidents NRTs Respond To

National Response Teams deploy to a wide range of large and complex arson and explosives scenes across the country. Some examples of major incidents include:

• Commercial/industrial facility fires.
• Residential complex fires.
• Vehicle explosions and bombings.
• Bombings of government buildings.
• Explosions/fires at critical infrastructure sites.
• Wildland arson fires.
• Fire/bombing incidents with fatalities.

NRTs provide capabilities that many local fire and police departments lack. Some of the key advantages NRTs offer include:

• Advanced expertise in fire science and explosion scene examination. Most local agencies have limited personnel trained in complex fire investigation techniques.
• Specialty equipment and technology not readily available to smaller jurisdictions. The NRTs travel with state-of-the-art tools for evidence recovery and analysis.
• Experience gained from responding to incidents across the U.S. NRT members collectively have decades of experience investigating major arson and bombing cases.
• Enhanced capabilities for large-scale evidence collection. NRTs have more personnel to thoroughly process extensive or dangerous scenes.
• Laboratory services to analyze fire debris and explosives evidence. Local agencies often lack quick access to forensic labs with specialized capabilities.
• Assistance managing complex investigations. NRTs can provide strategic advice and incident management support based on their nationwide experience.
• Prosecution support and expertise. They work with U.S. attorneys and provide testimony explaining the technical aspects of the incident.

Having these elite teams available to assist state and local investigators helps raise the standard of fire and explosives scene examinations across the country. NRTs are a vital resource that agencies can turn to when an incident exceeds their normal capabilities.