June 5, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Department Gets Help With New Equipment

■ Bomb Team to hold demonstration of new device tomorrow at Fire Academy

The Shreveport Fire Department is receiving some help in the detection of explosives, chemical, and biological devices in the form of a portable advanced level x-ray machine. The new device, called a Golden XR200, was donated to the department by the Ark-La-Tex Gun Collectors. It allows a bomb technician to see into suspicious and/or threatening packages alerting them to potential dangers. According to Assistant Chief David Glass, head of the department’s bomb squad, the new machine gives the technician an assurance that there is or is not something in a package in question. "There is no doubt that having the capability to see into a known or unknown threat, such as a briefcase or bag left at a location, without having to move or touch it, will provide our team with an additional level of safety and tool in determining what action to take, said Glass."

The Golden XR200 is a state-of-the-art x-ray machine, manufactured by Golden Engineering that uses much of the same technology that airport security uses to screen passengers’ bags as they enter the plane’s arrival and departure areas. However, these devices are relatively light weight as compared to those in the airport and are easily maneuvered into place by the technician. The process requires the bomb technician to place a film behind the package in question and then snap the picture. Within a matter of minutes, the bomb technicians are looking at a black and white x-ray photo that will show them any suspicious shapes or signs that an explosive device may be inside.

The x-ray source is the third piece of equipment dedicated for use by the bomb team in the past two years. The Ark-La-Tex Gun Collectors have also purchased a P.A.N. (Percussion Activated Non-Electric Disrupter) and a laptop computer for the department’s bomb team. With the purchase of the x-ray, their donations are nearing $10,000 worth of equipment.

The Shreveport Fire Department’s Bomb Team will hold an informational conference and demonstration of the XR200 for members of the media tomorrow, June 6, at 2:00 p.m. in room 4 at the Fire Training Academy, 6440 Greenwood Road. ###