1972

U.S. Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

National 

Response Team

National Response Team

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

(ATF) brings definitive expertise and an array of state-ofthe-art equipment to the investigation of major fire and 

explosives incidents. In 1978, ATF developed a national 

response capability to meet the challenges faced at the 

scenes of major fires and explosions. This capability, the 

National Response Team (NRT), is composed of ATF’s 

most experienced investigators and forensic experts. It 

is dispersed across three geographic regions to provide 

coverage throughout the United States. 

The NRT typically works as part of a multi-agency 

team with other Federal, State, and local investigators to 

reconstruct the scene, identify the 

origin of the fire or seat of the 

blast, and determine the cause of 

the incident. In the case of arsons 

and bombings, NRT members 

gather evidence to support 

criminal prosecutions. A deployed 

team is generally broken down 

into two components: a group that 

processes the scene and a group 

that follows up on investigative 

leads. Both groups work together 

as a single “Team Concept.”

ATF National Reponse Team Regions
ATF’s partnership with Federal, State, and local officers is 

vital to the most effective fire and explosion investigation 

efforts, and ATF strives to maintain a strong relationship 

with members of these other agencies.

The NRT consists of...

•	 Special agents who are trained as 

certified fire investigators, 

certified explosives specialists, 

and forensic mapping specialists. 

All special agents are experienced fire and explosives 

investigators who have worked 

numerous fire/explosives scenes 

and have extensive training.

•	 Special agents and State or local 

investigators who serve as canine handlers with an 

accelerant or explosives detection canine.

•	 Other specialized positions, such as explosives enforcement officers (bomb technicians), forensic chemists, 

fire protection engineers, and electrical engineers.

Equipment

The NRT has a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles 

that are strategically located throughout the United 

States, allowing the Team to be self-contained for the 

forensic examination of fire and explosion scenes. These 

trucks contain computer, recording, and communication 

equipment; an extensive selection of tools and equipment 

for scene processing and evidence collection; and personal 

protective equipment.
The NRT is also equipped with self-contained breathing 

apparatus and chemical protective suits, which allow the 

team to operate in Level A and B Hazardous Materials 

(HAZMAT) or Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) 

environments.

Professions/Specializations

Special Agent Certified Fire Investigators

•	 Trained in fire origin 

and cause, computer fire 

modeling, and technical 

interpretation of firerelated information.

•	 Conduct fire investigations and render expert 

testimony in court.

Special Agent Certified 

Explosives Specialists

•	 Trained in explosion 

origin and cause.

•	 Trained to identify, handle, and destroy explosives.

•	 Provide explosives technical support and assistance in 

explosives-related matters in the field.

•	 Conduct explosives investigations and render expert 

testimony in court.

Explosives Enforcement Officers 

(Bomb Technicians)

•	 Make explosive device technical classifications and 

reconstructions, and render expert testimony in court.

•	 Perform underwater explosives recoveries.

•	 Render safe improvised explosive devices.

Fire Protection Engineers

•	 Apply analytical tools in the areas of fire growth and 

dynamics and conduct engineering analyses to better 

understand fire behavior in structures. 
•	 Provide insight into building and fire codes, fire test 

methods, fire performance of materials, computer 

modeling of fires, and failure analysis.

Electrical Engineers 

•	 Provide information and 

perform forensic examinations on building power 

supplies, distribution 

systems, devices, and appliances to determine any role 

in fire or explosion 

causation. 

•	 May also assist in the understanding of fire migration 

through a building, using 

tools such as arc fault mapping.

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

•	 Examine evidence collected at fire and explosives scenes 

to identify the explosives used, bomb or incendiary 

device components, and flammable or combustible 

liquids that may have been used to accelerate the spread 

of the fire. 
•	 Serve as liaisons to other forensic laboratory services 

that may be needed. Forensic chemists have access to 

a wide variety of chemical and instrumental techniques 

to identify explosives and potential accelerants, as well 

as databases of components. 

•	 Each ATF laboratory has a mobile lab that can arrive 

on-scene to begin processing forensic evidence.

ATF also has other key investigative 

assets that often respond as part of the 

NRT...

•	 Arson and Explosives Criminal Investigative 

Analysts (Profilers)

•	 Special Agent Polygraph Examiners

•	 Forensic Auditors

•	 United States Bomb Data Center

•	 Intelligence Research Specialists
NRT Activations

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 terrorist 

attack on the Pentagon in 2001, the Charleston, S.C., 

furniture store fire in 2007 that killed nine firefighters, 

and the spree of 10 church arsons in Eastern Texas in 2010. 

Since its inception in 1978, the NRT has been activated 

more than 700 times.

NRT Activation Procedures

There is no fee for NRT services. A Federal, State, or local 

law enforcement or fire service official can request the 

services of the NRT by contacting the nearest ATF field 

office for an initial assessment. This assessment takes 

into consideration the target or victims, property damage, 

deaths and injuries, local ATF resources, and other factors.
International Response Team (IRT)

The deployment of ATF’s resources is not limited to 

within U.S. boundaries. Through an 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 

postblast 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 has responded to requests from foreign countries, 

including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, 

Grenada, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, 

Suriname, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, 

Albania, Lithuania, Macedonia, Swaziland, Zambia, 

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Micronesia.

For information about the NRT Program, contact the Chief, 

Fire Programs and Training Branch, at (800) 800-3855.
The ATF National Response Team 

and Local Police/Fire Officials

“Joining forces to 

protect the public 

and investigate fires 

and explosions.”

ATF Publication 3510.1

Revised August 2012