ATF National Response Team Arrives To Provide Investigative Assistance on the Home Depot Fire
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) arrived at 920 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, California, to provide their investigative assistance to the San José Fire Department (SJFD) in the determination of the origin and cause of a 5-alarm fire that occurred at the location the evening of April 9th.
“San José Fire Department is grateful to the ATF NRT and the resources they bring to this investigation,” said San José Fire Chief Robert Sapien, Jr. “Agents from SJFD and ATF will work collaboratively and expeditiously to gather witness statements and thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire. SJFD remains the lead agency on this investigation and appreciates the support customarily offered by the ATF NRT on incidents of this magnitude.”
“ATF’s NRT and the San José Fire Department Arson Unit are in the preliminary stages of this investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman, ATF, San Francisco Field Division. “Our focus is to provide our investigative assistance on the fire scene analysis to the San José Fire Department. ATF approaches these scenes without any preconceptions about what may have happened, and we allow the evidence to guide us to a conclusion. We will continue our investigation at the scene until we come to the determination of either incendiary (arson), accidental or undetermined.”
The NRT offers their expertise to federal, state, and local investigators with large-scale and complex fire and explosive incidents. The NRT is comprised of veteran special agents to include certified fire investigators, certified explosives specialists, fire protection engineers, chemists, forensic mappers, accelerant detection canine teams, and other highly specialized and experienced investigators. More information regarding the NRT can be found at https://www.atf.gov/explosives/national-response-team.
ATF developed the NRT in 1978. The NRT has deployed 12 times in fiscal year 2022, which began Oct.1, 2021. This is the 887th deployment since the inception of the NRT in 1978.
Anyone with any information about this fire should contact ATF and the SJFD at 1-(888)-ATF-Fire (1-888-283-3473) or by visiting www.reportit.com or through the mobile “reportit” app, available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store. All calls and tips can remain confidential.
| Contact: Alexandria Corneiro ATF Public Information Officer Phone: 925-557-2882 Email: alexandria.corneiro@atf.gov |
Contact: Erica Ray SJFD Public Information Manager Phone: 408-398-9228 Email: sjfdpio@sanjoseca.gov |
1-888-ATF-FIRE
(1-888-283-3473)
