Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) along with ATF special agents from the Kansas City Field Division were activated Sunday to join the investigation into the fire that destroyed the Bogey Hills Country Club, 1120 Country Club Road, St. Charles, MO. The three-alarm fire occurred in the late night hours of Thursday and burned into early Friday morning. The NRT arrived on the scene this morning.

“ATF is committed to working with the Missouri Fire Marshal’s Office, Central County Fire Rescue and St. Charles County Police Department, by adding our expertise and resources to this investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Fulton, ATF Kansas City Field Division.

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 explosions and arson incidents. The NRT consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States. Each team can respond within 24 hours to assist state and local law enforcement/fire service personnel in on-site investigations.

The teams are each composed of veteran special agents who have extensive post blast and fire origin and cause expertise; forensic chemists; explosives enforcement officers; fire protection engineers; accelerant detection canines and electrical engineers. The teams work 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 teams’ technical efforts is a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States is available to provide logistical support. This is the 9th NRT activation this fiscal year and the 806th activation since the inception of the NRT in 1978.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. For more information about ATF, go to www.atf.gov and follow @ATFHQ on Twitter.

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