FY2018 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2018 | Page 23

In FY18, AFD experienced a significant increase
in the number of EOD calls. The average
number of EOD calls for FY13-FY17 was
96.2 calls per year compared to 189 EOD-
related calls responded to in FY18.
The City’s Special Events, along with national,
state, and local incidents, are the primary
drivers of AFD EOD calls, and changing realities
have caused the Department to modify its
response model as the EOD mission becomes
increasingly
dynamic.
Maintaining
a
sustainable investigative and interdiction
capability that keeps pace with this growing
mission is a primary concern for the Department.
The AFD EOD Team, an FBI Accredited Bomb
Squad , includes Fire Prevention Inspectors and
Investigators who are cross-trained to investigate
suspicious packages and address the threat of
explosive devices. They provide support for federal
search warrants, participate in regional training
exercises with other EOD teams, and provide
dignitary support and detail assistance in and around the North Texas region.
The team also assists with the Special Events held in Arlington, and around
the country, by providing pre-event sweeps for the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T
Stadium, the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park, and the Dallas Wings at UTA,
as well as other events scheduled at those venues. The unit has two Explosive Detection Canine (K9) teams and seven
Vapor Wake Canine (K9) teams.
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