... here's an FYI:
ATF's National Response Team Activated to Austin, TX Apartment Fires
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 3 -- The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with ATF Special Agents from the Austin Field Office have been activated to assist the Austin Fire Department in the investigation of two fires at the Austin Parke Apartments and the Chevy Chase Apartments.
Donnie Carter, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of ATF in Houston, Texas, said, "Damage to the apartments is estimated at approximately 2.5 million dollars. The ATF is assisting the Austin Fire Department in this joint investigation."
In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to assist federal, state, and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant arson and explosives incidents. The 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.
In addition to investigating hundreds of large fire scenes, the NRT has also been activated to scenes such as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing and the 9/11 Pentagon crash site, as well as explosions at explosives and ammunition manufacturing plants, legal fireworks factories and illegal explosive device manufacturing operations.
The teams are each composed of veteran special agents who have post blast and fire origin-and-cause expertise; forensic chemists; explosives enforcement officers; fire protection engineers; accelerant detection canines; explosives detection canines; and intelligence support, computer forensic 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. Moreover, a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States is available to provide logistical support.
The NRT will be on the scene of the fires beginning Thursday morning, August 4, 2005. This will be the NRT's 600th activation since the inception of the NRT in 1978.
Thanks Jellyjam.
That is interesting.
I learn something new everyday.
On the radio news broadcasts in the past week, I have heard
of arson fires in up to 5 'apartment complexes' that are being considered as arson.
In the San Francisco, Denver and Las Vegas areas.
Las Vegas also had 5 brush fires, that were arson, said to be in 5 acre to 160 acre size, before controlled.
A couple months ago, we have about 5 arson fires here in our trees and brush. Mohave County, Arizona.
Hmmmmmmm.
Hairs standing up on the back of the ole neck.