Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

HAZARD, Ky. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has deployed its National Response Team (NRT) to Hazard, Ky., for the investigation of a fire that occurred early Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, at the old Grand Hotel building, located at 446 Main Street in Hazard.

The Grand Hotel, which houses apartments for approximately 50 people, and the Peking Chinese Restaurant, along with adjacent buildings, also sustained substantial damage from the fire.

The ATF Louisville Field Division, the Kentucky State Fire Marshal's Office and the Hazard Police Department are requesting the public’s help regarding this fire. Anyone with information about this fire or if anyone has any photos of the fire is asked to contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) or the Kentucky State Fire Marshal's Office at (502) 753-3400 or the Hazard Police or Fire Department.

Special Agent in Charge Stuart Lowrey of ATF's Louisville Division said, "We are working closely with the Kentucky State Fire Marshal's Office and Hazard Police and Fire Departments to identify the origin and cause of this devastating fire. Given the large scale, complexity and danger of working such scenes, we have deployed ATF’s National Response Team to help reconstruct the scene, identify the origin of the fire and determine its cause."

The NRT is composed of veteran special agents, including certified fire investigators, certified explosives specialists, forensic mapping specialists, accelerant and explosives detection canine teams, explosives enforcement officers, fire protection engineers, electrical engineers and forensic chemists. In addition, the Louisville Division of ATF has deployed special agents, investigative analysts and intelligence research specialists. Overall, about 40 ATF personnel are supporting this effort.

ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms, explosives and arson laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.

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