City of Las Vegas, NV

08/26/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/26/2024 13:20

Las Vegas Bomb Squad

For the past 40 years, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has operated the only public safety agency bomb squad in Southern Nevada.

Responding to more than 100 explosive-type incidents each year, the team also has responded to other counties in Southern Nevada, California and Arizona.

For the past 40 years, @lasvegasfd has operated the only public safety agency bomb squad in Southern Nevada.

The team responds to more than 100 explosive-type incidents each year: https://t.co/E2lwFMM9lypic.twitter.com/4tsAO3CHtf

- City of Las Vegas (@CityOfLasVegas) March 26, 2022

Here are some important facts about the Bomb Squad:

  • Only public safety bomb squad for all of Southern Nevada, providing counter-IED and bomb squad mutual aid response to Northern Nevada and to our bordering states of California, Arizona and Utah.
  • FEMA Type 1 Bomb Squad.
  • Each member of the unit is a sworn Special Deputy - U.S. Marshal and member of the FBI - WMD Joint Terrorism Task Force.
  • Our accredited bomb squad is in the minority as a fire department-based bomb squad. Roughly 8% of the 466 authorized public safety bomb squads are fire department based.
  • Our bomb squad commander has a coveted seat on the National Bomb Squad Commander's Advisor Board (NBSCAB), elected by the U.S. Bomb Squad Commanders (a first for fire department-based bomb squads). NBSCAB oversees all 466 current bomb squads, which is the entire U.S. Bomb Squad program.
  • All members are Nevada POST sworn category 1 peace officers.
  • All members are emergency medical technicians/paramedics.
  • All members on the unit are FBI-certified Bomb Technicians who train out of the FBI - HDS (Hazardous Device School) in Huntsville, Alabama, and operate under the same guidelines nationally set forth by NBSCAB.
  • The unit has been an organized bomb squad with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue for more than 48 years.
  • They routinely work and train hand in hand with other local, military and federal agencies to include, but not limited to: FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals, USAF EOD, NV National Guard CST and Secret Service, along with all law enforcement agencies within our response area.
  • 13 members total time in service to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is 284.5 years, with an average length of service of 21.8 years.

    For the past 40 years, @lasvegasfd has operated the only public safety agency bomb squad in Southern Nevada.

    Take a rare look behind the scenes in this video.

    The team responds to more than 100 explosive-type incidents each year: https://t.co/AJMSrbMFvApic.twitter.com/ryW6NRUPeZ- City of Las Vegas (@CityOfLasVegas) March 23, 2022