ATF National Response Team Activated to Investigate California Condominium Fire

US Department of Justice, Feb 14, 2007

The National Response Team (NRT) from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with ATF special agents from the San Diego field office have entered the investigation of a large commercial fire that occurred Jan. 18 at D.R. Horton Paramount Condominiums in Escondido.

John A. Torres, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’S Los Angeles Field Division, said “damage to the D.R. Horton Paramount Condominiums is estimated at approximately $4 million to $7 million. ATF is assisting the Escondido Fire Department in this joint investigation.”

ATF’s National Response Team (NRT), which arrives on the scene tomorrow, has brought definitive expertise and an array of state-of-the-art equipment to the investigation of major fire and explosives incidents since 1978. Four regional components, organized geographically to cover the United States, comprise the NRT. The team can respond within 24 hours to assist state and local law enforcement or fire service personnel in onsite investigations.

The responding NRT component normally has 13-18 members, including 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, computer forensic and audit support. A fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States provides logistical support.