National Response Team
In 1978, ATF developed a national response capability to assist Federal, State, and local investigators meet the challenges of significant arson and explosives incidents. This capability, the National Response Team (NRT), consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States. Each team can respond within 24 hours to assist State and local law enforcement/fire service personnel in onsite investigations.
Although the NRT has been used predominately to assist in the investigation of suspicious commercial fires, it has also been activated to the scenes of criminal bombings as well as explosions at explosives and ammunition manufacturing plants, legal fireworks factories, and illegal explosive device manufacturing operations.
The NRT has been activated to all major explosives and fire incidents in the United States. Examples include the Oklahoma City bombing, the first World Trade Center Bombing and high profile special events such as the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and the 2000 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The teams are each composed of veteran special agents having postblast and fire origin-and-cause expertise; forensic chemists; explosives enforcement officers; fire protection engineers; accelerant detection canines; explosives detection canines; intelligence support; and audit support. The teams work alongside State and local officers in reconstructing the scene, identifying the seat of the blast or origin of the fire, conducting interviews, and sifting through debris to obtain evidence related to the bombing/arson.
Further complementing the team's efforts are technical, legal, and intelligence advisors and a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States to provide logistical support.
Inquiries about the NRT may be directed to the Chief, Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch, at 202-648-7100.