ATF National Response Team Investigates Roswell Air Center Fir

ROSWELL, New Mexico – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has deployed its National Response Team (NRT) to Roswell, New Mexico, to investigate a large structural fire at the Roswell Air Center.

On Dec. 5, the Roswell Fire Department arrived to find the building heavily involved in fire. The blaze burned for several hours and destroyed the structure. After consulting with other local agencies, the Roswell Fire Department requested ATF’s National Response Team to assist with the investigation of the origin and cause of the fire.

“This fire spread across 40,000 square feet of hangar space at the Roswell Air Center, resulting in a total structural loss,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Stallo. “The rapid deployment of the NRT brings critical federal resources to support our local public safety partners as we work side by side to determine the fire’s origin and cause in the days and weeks ahead.”

“I appreciate the NRT rapid response to Roswell as well as the opportunity to work with such a highly specialized team,” said Roswell Fire Department Chief Steve Chavez.

The team consists of Special Agents, Special Agent Certified Fire Investigators, Special Agent Certified Explosives Specialists, Fire Protection Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Forensic Chemists, Intelligence Research Specialists, Digital Forensic Specialists, a Medic and an Ignitable Liquid or Explosive Detection K-9 with handler.

Since its inception in 1978, the NRT has responded to 942 incidents, including four activations this fiscal year alone. The NRT’s rapid-response structure enables it to generally deploy within 24 hours, bringing in state-of-the-art technology, including unmanned aerial systems, 3-D scanning, forensic mapping and portable labs, to aid in fire and explosion origin and cause determinations.

The NRT has a proven track record of handling the nation’s most tragic and complex fire and explosive incidents. Past deployments include:

• The Palisades Fire: A major wildfire in early January 2025 in Los Angeles County, burned over 23,000 acres, devastating the Pacific Palisades.

• The Maui Wildfire Disaster: One of the deadliest U.S. fires in over a century, requiring an intricate investigation due to high winds and rapid fire spread.

• Conception Dive Boat Fire: A fatal fire near Santa Barbara where the NRT helped uncover key evidence leading to safety reforms in marine operations.