GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with ATF special agents from the Dallas Field Division were requested by the Grand Prairie Fire Department to investigate a fire located at the NFI Distribution warehouse, 1029 Post and Paddock Road, Grand Prairie.  The fire occurred Monday night, Feb. 7, 2011, destroying the 500,000 square-foot building.  Two firefighters received minor injuries fighting the fire, and were treated at the scene.  The team of two dozen agents and specialists arrived today and will start the scene investigation Saturday morning.

"ATF is investigating this fire jointly with our partners, the Grand Prairie Fire Department.  We will work together to determine the origin and cause of this fire," said Robert Champion, ATF special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Division.  

The NFI Distribution warehouse was a total loss with estimates at more than $25 million.  NFI also houses Pitney Bowes, which meters and ships large quantities of mail.  This is the 6th activation of the NRT in fiscal year 2011, and the 714th activation since the inception of the team in 1978.

Other NRT activations in Texas include the church fires in east Texas in January and February 2010, the Governor's Mansion in Austin in June 2008, the Houston midrise fatality fire in March 2007, and the July 2010 fire at an egg farm in Boling where a firefighter was killed.  

In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to investigate in partnership with federal, state and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant arson and explosives incidents.  The NRT is organized geographically to cover the United States.  The NRT can respond promptly to work jointly with 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 Murrah 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 NRT comprises 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 forensic audit support.  The team works 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 effort 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.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson.  More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.  

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives