ATF NRT Investigating Underwood Fruit and Warehouse Company Fire

BINGEN, Wash. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that its National Response Team (NRT) has joined the investigation into the Underwood Fruit and Warehouse Company Fire that occurred on October 18, 2017, at approximately 5:30 a.m. The fire destroyed a large fruit packaging building causing millions of dollars in damage. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

The Bingen Fire Department requested assistance from the ATF Seattle Field Division and NRT because of the size of the building, amount of damage and complexity of the origin and cause investigation.

Over the next several days, ATF Certified Fire Investigators along with multiple other subject matter experts from across the country will work alongside local investigators to sift through debris, reconstruct the scene, and conduct interviews to identify the origin and cause of the fire. 

ATF is the sole federal agency with experience and resources to investigate fires and crimes of arson in the United States and its territories. The primary mission of the NRT is to concentrate ATF explosives and fire investigative resources and expertise on large-scale and complex incidents due to the size, scope or number of victims.

Since its inception in 1978, the NRT has deployed 816 times. This is the first activation for Fiscal Year 2018, which began Oct. 1, 2017.

Seattle Field Division’s area of responsibility includes all of Washington state.