Sheriff's Office

PR #:
2022-42
Date Issued:
Mar 14, 2022 - 12:53PM

For Immediate Release

Regional Consolidated Bomb Squad to purchase fire pump utilizing Justice Assistance Grant

For media inquiries contact:
Sarah Johns
Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Office: 775-785-6235
Cell: 775-391-0407

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The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office today announced that the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners accepted a Justice Assistance Grant award, project number 18-JAG-44, administered through the Office of Criminal Justice Assistance, in the amount of $9,500 to purchase a fire pump for the Regional Consolidated Bomb Squad.  The fire pump will provide immediate firefighting capability during Regional Bomb Squad trainings.

During current squad trainings, given the presence of explosives, fire suppression assets are on standby, which requires a fire apparatus and crew to be taken out of service for a potentially significant period time. As a direct result of this need, another crew must backfill the crew on standby. Once the fire pump system is installed, if a fire is sparked as a result of bomb detonation, bomb technicians will be able to utilize the pump to provide an initial response while fire personnel respond – thereby freeing fire crews to continue to respond to community 911 calls and not be on standby.

 “We are grateful to the Office of Criminal Justice Assistance for awarding the Sheriff’s Office this grant and to the Board of County Commissioners for accepting the funds,” Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Captain Phil Jones said. “This funding will allow us to equip a currently assigned side by side with the firefighting pump and tank to provide initial response should a fire spark. Working with our local fire personnel, this award funding will help improve safety for all of Washoe County.”

BACKGROUND:

The Consolidated Bomb Squad operates a training and disposal range. This range is 137 acres located north of Sparks, Nevada. This range is used to train bomb technicians in the safe handling and detonation of explosives. The Consolidated Bomb Squad Range has hosted several classes in post blast investigation, advanced render safe techniques and Homemade Explosives to name a few.  The Consolidated Bomb Squad responds to approximately 50 call outs a year for explosives or improvised explosive devices.

The Consolidated Bomb Squad range also serves as a disposal site for old explosives, possible or actual improvised explosive devices that are collected throughout Northern Nevada from the Consolidated Bomb Squad and Tahoe Douglas Bomb Squad.

During an explosive detonation one of the byproducts is heat and fire. The Consolidated Bomb Squad has done extensive work to prepare the detonation sight to mitigate the spread of fire from the detonation to surrounding vegetation. Even with this preparation work, spot fires have started.

Due to potential fire hazard, we have requested fire suppression assets for standby during our training and destruct operations. To do this, a piece of fire apparatus and crew must be taken out of service for potentially significant amount of time, this requires another crew to backfill the crew that has been requested at the range.

To better serve the community $9,500.00 was requested to purchase an enclosed firefighting pump and tank that would be affixed to a current side by side that is used at the Consolidated Bomb Squad Range.  By having the pump system on site, it would allow the fire crew to continue to respond to community 911 calls. If a fire were to spark as the result of a detonation, bomb technicians could use the installed pump and be able to provide an initial response while fire personnel respond.

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The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.

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