U.S. Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

National

Response Team

National Response Team (NRT)

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 

Explosives (ATF) brings definitive expertise and an 

array of state-of-the-art equipment to the investigation 

of major fire and explosives incidents. In 1978, ATF 

developed a national response capability to assist 

Federal, State, and local investigators in meeting 

the challenges faced at the scenes of significant 

fire and explosives incidents. This capability, the 

National Response Team (NRT), is comprised of 

four geographic regions to cover the United States. 

Each region can respond within 24 hours to assist 

Federal, State, and local law enforcement/fire service 

personnel in on-site investigations.

ATF National Reponse Team Regions

The NRT works alongside Federal, State, and local 

officers in reconstructing the scene, identifying the 

seat of the blast or the origin of the fire, conducting 

interviews, and sifting 

through debris to 

obtain evidence related 

to the explosion/fire. 
ATF’s partnership with Federal, State, and local 

officers is vital to the most effective scene-processing 

efforts. ATF strives to maintain a strong relationship 

with all Federal, State, and local officers.

The NRT maintains:

• Special agents in the 

following specializations: 

certified explosives 

specialists, certified 

fire investigators, forensic 

mappers and schematic 

artists, and canine 

handlers with an 

accelerant or explosives 

detection canine. All special 

agents are experienced 

explosives and fire investigators who have 

worked numerous fire/explosives scenes and have 

extensive training.

• Explosives enforcement officers, forensic chemists,

and multidisciplined engineers. 

The NRT has a fleet of fully equipped response 

vehicles that are strategically located throughout the 

United States and allow the NRT to be self-contained 

for the forensic examination of explosives and fire 

scenes. These trucks contain computer, recording, 

and communication equipment; an extensive selection 

of tools for scene processing; first aid and personal 

protective equipment; and evidence collection 

materials.
The NRT has several full-time members whose 

primary focus is to respond to NRT callouts 

throughout the country. These veteran investigators 

also provide training and assist with oversight of the 

NRT program.

All NRT members are certified in all levels of 

personal protective equipment, “Level A” inclusive.

Explosives Enforcement Officers (bomb 

technicians)

• Make device determinations and render expert 

courtroom testimony.

• Perform underwater explosives recoveries and 

render-safe procedures.

• Render-safe improvised explosive devices.

• Travel to foreign countries to conduct 

assessments of the countries’ capabilities in the 

investigation of explosives incidents.

Special Agent Certified Explosives Specialists

• Trained to identify, handle, and destroy explosives.

• Provide explosives technical support and 

assistance in explosives-related matters in the field.

• Conduct investigations 

into the cause of explosions 

and render expert testimony

in court.

Professions/Specializations
Special Agent Certified Fire Investigators

• Trained in fire 

origin and cause, 

computer fire 

modeling, and 

technical

interpretation 

of fire-related 

information.

• Conduct fire investigations and render expert 

testimony in court.

Engineers and Scientists

Utilize engineering 

methods, analytical 

tools, and applied 

research to characterize 

fire, fire environments, 

and various conditions 

surrounding 

fire incidents.

Accelerant and Explosives Detection Canines

ATF’s unique training methodology enables 

accelerant detection canines to find a variety of 

ignitable liquids that could be used to initiate a fire. 

It also trains explosives detection canines to locate 

improvised explosive devices, explosive residues, 

post-blast debris, firearms, ammunition, and spent 

shell casings.
Forensic Chemists

Forensic chemists use a wide variety of chemical

and instrumental analyses to identify explosives, 

including gas chromatography/liquid chromatography/

mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, capillary 

electrophoresis, Fourier transform infrared 

spectrometry, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray 

fluorescence.

Forensic chemists examine evidence collected at 

explosives and fire scenes to identify the explosives 

used, other bomb components, and flammable or 

combustible liquid residues that may have been used 

to accelerate the spread of the fire.

Each ATF laboratory has a mobile lab that can arrive 

on-scene to begin processing of forensic evidence.

• Arson and Explosives Criminal 

Investigative Analysts (Profilers)

• Special Agent Polygraph 

Examiners

• Auditors

• United States Bomb Data Center

• The National Tracing Center

• Arson Explosives Enforcement 

Branch Analysts

• Intelligence

Research 

Specialists

• Mobile 

Command 

Vehicles

ATF also has other key components...
The NRT has assisted with the response capability 

to numerous NSSE, including the 1996 Olympics 

in Atlanta, the Republican and Democratic National 

Conventions, the G-8 Summits, the NATO 50th 

Anniversary 1999, the World Trade Organization 

Conference 1999, the Super Bowls, the Presidential 

Inaugurations, the Asian Bank Conference 2001, and 

the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

NRT Activations

National Special Security Events (nsse)

NRT activations include such incidents as the 

World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the Oklahoma 

City bombing in 1995, the Atlanta Olympic bombing 

in 1996, the Otherside Lounge in Atlanta in 1997, the 

abortion clinic bombing in Birmingham in 1998, and 

the terrorist attack on the Pentagon in 2001. Since its 

inception in 1978, the NRT has been activated more 

than 600 times.
The deployment of the NRT is free of charge. 

A Federal, State, or local law enforcement or fire 

service official can request the services of an NRT 

by contacting the nearest ATF field office for an 

initial assessment. The initial ATF assessment takes 

into consideration the target or victims, property 

damage, deaths and injuries, local ATF resources, 

and other factors. The NRT may also be activated if 

the incident is beyond the resources available in the 

NRT Activation Procedures

affected area. The Arson and Explosives Programs 

Division (AEPD) in ATF headquarters will use the 

assessment to determine the degree of response 

required. AEPD makes the ultimate decision 

regarding whether a response is appropriate.
The deployment of ATF’s resources is not limited to 

within U.S. boundaries. Through a 1991 agreement 

with the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic 

Security Service (DSS), ATF provides investigative, 

advisory, and technical/forensic assistance and 

oversight at select fire and/or post-blast scene 

investigations occurring on United States property 

on foreign soil [where DSS has investigative 

responsibility], and those affecting foreign 

governments on foreign territory.

The IRT is selected from the cadre of NRT members 

and is comprised of ATF’s most experienced fire and 

explosives investigators, technicians, and engineers; 

accelerant and explosives detection canines; 

explosives enforcement officers (bomb technicians); 

and forensic chemists; and is further supported 

by state-of-the-art forensic laboratory equipment, 

auditors, and intelligence resources.

The IRT has responded to requests for assistance 

from foreign countries, including Peru, Guatemala, 

Micronesia, Ecuador, Argentina, South Korea, 

Lithuania, El Salvador, Sri Lanka, Suriname and 

Grenada.

For more information about the NRT Program, 

contact the Chief, Arson and Explosives Enforcement 

Branch at (202) 927-7930.

IRT Response Team (IRT)

The ATF National Response Team 

and Local Police/Fire Officials

“Joining forces

to protect the

public and

investigate

explosives and

fire incidents.”

ATF Publication 3510.1

Revised March 2006