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Planes, Trains and Bombs
Written by
Captain Art Andres
Ontario(California) Fire Department
aandres@ci.ontario.ca.us
909-395-2002The United States is proud to have many brave men and women who are currently placing themselves in harms way so we may continue to enjoy the freedom of living in a democratic society. Freedom is rarely free and it is hard for many people of this great nation to understand why a determined group of individuals with deeply held convictions would seek to harm innocent people. The FBI defines terrorism as “…the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” (Code of federal Regulations (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85)) 
All too often we find ourselves in a position of thinking it will never happen in my town or someone else will assume the role of protector for my community. According the (ret) Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman who is an extremely well respected soldier, scholar and expert in the field of human aggression. He clearly understands the danger we as Americans WILL face in the future and said “Denial is the enemy! Terrorist are not afraid to die, but they are only afraid to fail.” Terrorist acts in the world continue to increase with explosive devices and high-velocity firearms as the weapons of choice. A resolute group of people with available resources to execute scandalous acts are a challenge most Americans can never imagine, but we only need to look at cities such as Madrid and London to understand the impact explosives detonated in densely populated areas will have on emergency services. How do we address incidents caused by an adversary that will stop at nothing to achieve their objective of instilling fear and terror into our society?
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Bomb Data Center released data from a 10 year period which analyzed the number of bomb-related fatalities and injuries resulting from bombing incidents in the United States. (1) The FBI reported 17,579 bombings, 427 related deaths, and 4,063 injuries between 1988 and 1997. We in the fire service respond to countless emergencies on a daily basis but rarely do we face situations which involve explosives. The potential for a terrorist related event will always be a possible threat and will pose unique challenges from mass causalities to panic crowds, requiring a broadening of existing skills. Currently the number one cause of fatalities (approximately 60%) in Iraq and Afghanistan result from IEDs, according to Department of Defense statistics.
A majority of terrorist acts in the world involve explosives and nearly all groups have vowed to keep attacking American targets in an attempt to kill, destroy or instill panic to cause a change of beliefs. We face a threat that seeks to harm individuals solely based on the fact that a person is an American. The components required to build an explosive or destructive device are readily available to most members of our society and are relatively inexpensive. Pyrotechnic powders from fireworks, black powder, and smokeless powders are several examples of readily available materials used for the assembly of IEDs and account for 54% of all explosive materials according to the ATF.(2) When combine with a sealed container and a triggering mechanism, create a IED. Construction was once a matter of experimentation but current resources for bomb makers include; the library, gun shops/shows, television, and my personal favorite “the internet”. Bombers are varied in their reasons for creating IEDs but often times choose targets based on political, religious or personal motivations. (3) IEDs range from a simple Molotov cocktail, escalating to pipe bombs and large vehicle bombs.
No two (2) IEDs will be the same. A small package can be just as deadly as a large vehicle bomb and should be treated as an immediate threat to rescuers, as well as the public. Complacency has caused many fire injuries. While responding to time sensitive urgent situations, such as structure fires, often times we are unable to stop and develop an intricate plan prior to taking action. We rely on standard operating procedures and prior training to effectively mitigate the emergency. There is one type of emergency which is very similar to most bomb related incidents, HAZ MATS. Like a suspicious package, haz mat scenes involve many unknowns and an organized plan must be developed prior to taking action. Do not assume the threat is not real or the danger is minimal due to the size of the package. All fire personnel should be able to address the first 3 primary objectives without specialized training or equipment. First, always provide for the safety of your crew and the public. Second, isolate the suspicious package with appropriate safety perimeters and notify the appropriate authorities (bomb squad). Bomb techs have a common saying, “If you can see the bomb, the bomb can see you”. Evacuate the immediate areas according to local protocols but a good rule of thumb for evacuation is:
| Building Evacuation Distance | Outdoor Evac Distance | |
| Pipe Bomb | 70 ft | 850 ft |
| Briefcase | 150 ft | 1,850 ft |
| Sedan | 400 ft | 1,750 ft |
| Van | 640 ft | 2,750 ft |
| Small moving van | 860 ft | 3,750 ft |
| Semi-trailer | 1,570 ft | 7,000 ft |
There have been many injuries resulting from curious personnel who did not believe the threat was significant. IEDs can be initiated by a victim (or firefighter), time delayed, or functioned remotely. An individual may be watching from a distant location to determine the perfect time to function his destructive device. We can only hope that time is not when a firefighter is standing immediately over the package.
Seldom has the fire service been a target of outside violence and large scale incidents are currently the exception, not the norm. We should look to other countries which are currently experiencing regular violent behavior to anticipate future trends in our communities. Many groups have created secondary explosions aimed specifically at injuring rescuers. Do not become complacent while operating on explosive incidents. Remember scene safety is paramount when approaching any incident, but do not let your guard down during the operation.
I strongly believe that our police and firefighters are not only public servants but warriors. We have been taught to stand against those who seek to harm the innocent. Edmund Burke, Irish Philosopher/Statesman said; “Evil prevails when good men stand by and do nothing”. Our job does not end when we hang our gear up at the end of a shift. I love how Pat Williams, Senior Vic President of the Orlando Magic, describes a warrior: “A warrior is a man who is trained, equipped and prepared for battle. He’s a man of courage and moral conviction, willing to risk everything for a cause greater than himself”. Our crews and the public we serve expect exceptional performance while making decisions and implementing specific action plans. We as firefighters can never let our guard down or fall into the trap of believing we will never be a target. Stand strong when trouble calls and be vigilant against enemy attacks; whether that is suspicious activity, possible IEDs, or criminal acts. The terrorist we face believe they are warriors but they are nothing more than cowards who seek weak targets. Terror prevention occurs through intelligence gathering, threat assessments, and proactive activities aimed at deterrence. Emergency action plans developed in collaboration with local law enforcement, transportation providers and local hospitals will assist you mitigate a blast related incident. Be vigilant with respect to scene safety and potential threats. We cannot afford to become complacent and must always protect those who place their trust in us. Expect the unexpected!
Art Andres is currently a Captain on one of the busiest medic engines in the City of Ontario, California. He has been a paramedic for 20 years while working in a regional trauma center, as a flight paramedic and instructor in various communities. He serves as the paramedic representative on the State EMS for Children Committee and the Emergency Medical Care Committee for San Bernardino County, the largest county in the United States. He holds BS degree in Occupational Studies and has been a firefighter for 18 years, serving full time at Ontario Fire Department for the last 15. Captain Andres is a certified bomb tech and regularly speaks on blast injuries to emergency responders.