HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
With any emergency-- a normal day can turn into a life or death situation in the blink of an eye.
Wednesday, the very people who respond to those situations and investigate to find answers were brushing up on some skills, themselves.
From recovering evidence after car bomb explosion to fighting flames, the ATF agents do it all.
Seth Graybell, a Team Leader with the ATF National Response Team tells our reporter,it's all about getting in and getting out as safely and efficiently as possible. Graybell adds, “Process the scene quickly. Collect the evidence quickly.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or (ATF) is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice. The ATF National Response Team is at Redstone Arsenal doing annual training and practicing for any emergency explosive situation.
Seth Graybell tells us, training is always modified to reflect real-life issues the team faces in the field. During this session, the agents are working on car bomb scenes. And carefully but quickly collecting evidence. Time isn’t on their side.
Seth Graybell says there is always a risk when walking onto any explosive site. It's important to do the follow-up investigation quickly to keep civilians safe as well. He adds, “Bombing scenes-- there’s always potential life hazards of secondary devices.”
Training is necessary. But, when the real call comes in, agents pick up and respond to scenes around the country. Graybell says, “It’s critical that we arrive quickly, secure the scene and make it safe.”
On the other side of Redstone Arsenal, ATF Fire agents and investigators are training themselves. They're talking all about house fires; how quickly they can spread, and why it’s important to know the origin of the fire. James Panos, Special Agent Fire Investigator with ATF tells us, “It teaches investigators the science behind the fire.”
But, ATF agents aren't just talking about fire-- they're actually setting a few buildings ablaze.
Flames rage inside a replica living room as agents demonstrate the destructive power of fires. A group of visiting attorneys see up close just how quickly a house fire spreads and how the investigative process ties in.
But, fire investigators say this test could quickly become real.
James Panos adds, “Fire spread is a lot faster than it was decades ago.”
Officials say if they have any advice, it’s to sleep with the doors closed-- it’ll stop the spread of fire and toxic smoke.
According to the firefighter Safety Research Institute, sleeping with the doors closed can slow down flames and save your life. Because of all of the synthetic materials in homes now, fire spreads quicker than ever before.
Forty years ago, you had about 17 minutes to escape a house fire. Today, you have just around 3 minutes to get out.