DETROIT, Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) along with ATF special agents from the Detroit Field Division were activated today at the request of the Warren, Michigan Fire Department to investigate a fire at a furniture resale shop located at 4243 10 Mile Road.  The fire was reported to the Warren Fire Department at approximately 2:13 a.m. yesterday. The team of 20 special agents and specialists arrive today and will start the scene investigation in the morning.

The ATF NRT will be joined by approximately 15 ATF Special Agent's from the Detroit Field Division.  ATF is investigating this fire jointly with the Warren Fire Department.  The structure and contents are a total loss, the structure occupies approximately 10,000 square feet and the total estimated loss is approximately $2,000,000.

"We are investigating this fire jointly with the Warren Fire Department and will utilize all resources necessary to determine the cause and origin of this fire," said David L. McCain, ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division.

Other activations of the NRT in Michigan include the May 2010 Best Textile Services fire in Warren; the August 2010 fire at the Metro PCS store on Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, which severely injured seven Detroit firefighters, and the June 2012 Nelson's Speed Shop fire in Greenville.

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 consists of three teams organized geographically to cover the United States. Each team can respond within 24 hours 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 Federal Building bombing and the 9/11 Pentagon crash site, as well as explosions NRT Lake Jackson, Texas at explosives and ammunition manufacturing plants, legal fireworks factories and illegal explosive device manufacturing operations.

The teams are each composed of 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 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 team's efforts 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. Or Follow ATF on Twitter!

Contact: Special Agent Donald Dawkins, (313) 407-6018 Cell

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives