ATF National Response Team Activated to Join the Investigation of Chandler Print Shop Explosion

 Phoenix – The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with ATF special agents from the Phoenix Field Division, were activated today to join the investigation of the explosion that occurred at a commercial printing business, located in Chandler, Arizona. This is the 875th NRT activation since it’s inception and 12th activation this year.

The NRT callout will have experts arriving Friday and they will begin processing the scene. ATF’s NRT was activated to join the investigation at the request of the City of Chandler. The NRT members will be working jointly with investigators from Chandler Fire and Police Department.

“ATF is committed to working alongside the Chandler Police and Fire Department to determine the origin and cause of this explosion that tragically injured four individuals ,” said Special Agent in Charge of ATF Phoenix Field Division Gabriel Pinon.

Federal, state and local investigators can request an NRT activation to investigate significant fire, arson and explosion incidents. The NRT provides an immediate and sustained nationwide response capability, deploying within 24 hours of notification, with state-of-the-art equipment and qualified ATF personnel.

The NRT works in conjunction with other investigators to reconstruct the scene, identify the seat of the blast or origin of the fire and determine the cause of an incident. In the case of bombings and arsons, NRT members gather evidence to support criminal prosecutions. A deployed NRT is generally broken down into two components — a group that processes the scene and an investigative-lead element. In the course of the overall investigation, both components coordinate daily to ensure investigative continuity.

In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to bring its expertise to federal, state and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant explosives and arson incidents. The NRT consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States.

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; intelligence support, computer forensic support and audit support. Further complementing the teams’ efforts are technical, legal and intelligence advisers. Moreover, a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States is available to provide NRT Video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUaSobNa1Kg.