Kodiak Enterprises Fire, Tacoma WA, 2023

TACOMA, WA – A major investigation is underway after a devastating fire tore through the 276-foot commercial fishing vessel Kodiak Enterprises while docked in Tacoma, Washington. The blaze, which broke out earlier this week, has drawn the attention of federal investigators, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The ATF’s National Response Team (NRT) was deployed to Tacoma on Monday, joining forces with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard. The NRT isn’t messing around – they’ve brought in a full crew of specialists: Special Agents, Certified Fire Investigators, Fire Protection Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Forensic Chemists, Certified Explosives Specialists, an Intelligence Research Specialist, a Medic, and even an accelerant-sniffing canine unit. This isn’t a simple fender-bender; they’re treating this like a serious crime scene.

“Ship fires present unique challenges for fire investigators, particularly in the area of safety,” stated ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “But we are committed to ensuring that we get an accurate account of the origin and cause of this fire in the safest manner possible.” Translation: these things are tinderboxes, and figuring out what sparked this inferno won’t be easy. Investigators will be meticulously combing through the wreckage, looking for any sign of foul play or mechanical failure.

This deployment marks the twelfth activation of the NRT this fiscal year, and the 903rd since the program’s inception in 1978. The NRT is divided into three regional teams, ready to deploy within 24 hours to any major fire scene across the country. They bring with them a serious arsenal of equipment and expertise, specializing in pinpointing the origin and cause of fires.

The ATF has a long history of responding to high-profile, complex fire investigations. The NRT’s resume includes some of the most infamous incidents in recent history: the Nashville “Christmas Day” bombing, the unrest-fueled fires that raged across the Midwest in 2020, the Austin, Texas bombing spree in 2018, and even the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon. They’ve seen it all, and they’re prepared to tackle whatever they find on the Kodiak Enterprises.

While the investigation is still in its early stages, the ATF’s involvement signals a seriousness that goes beyond a simple accident. The agency is the primary federal authority for investigating fires and arson, and their presence suggests investigators haven’t ruled out the possibility of criminal intent. Anyone with information related to the fire is urged to contact the ATF at www.atf.gov.

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