BATS

Your solution for a national, shared database of explosives and arson incidents available on the web around the clock.

What is BATS?

The Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) is a web-based case management system which provides you, State and local arson & explosives investigators, access to up-to-date arson and explosives investigative data from across the nation at no charge. Unlike anything you may currently use, it's not just limited to your local jurisdiction or state. BATS provides you access to national arson and explosives incident information.

How Does BATS Work?

BATS is a secure, user friendly, web-based computer application. All you need is a browser and an Internet connection to use it. BATS is available to you around the clock. The BATS interface is easy to use; you enter case information into clearly identified data entry fields, and easily click dropdown menu selections. You can share your arson and explosives incidents with other BATS users across the country, and you can search and analyze national data to discover trends, patterns, and leads. You can also use BATS to create a variety of reports customized to your needs, and track and report incidents to justify budget requests. BATS is agency-administered and reports are printed with your agency’s letterhead. BATS is also part of the national curriculum at the Hazardous Devices School (bomb technicians) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama and the National Fire Academy’s Fire/Arson Origin-and-Cause Investigations course in Emmitsburg, MD. In addition, BATS is part of the FBI’s Model for Bomb Squad Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

BATS Features and Benefits

BATS features state-of-the-art case management technology. Users are able to capture details of explosives and fire cases, including improvised explosive device (IED) components, incendiary devices, origin-and-cause or device placement, suspect information, casualties, dollar losses, fire descriptors, collateral crimes, witness interviews, juvenile firesetters, and descriptions of how a device was delivered. BATS is separate from the NFIRS database. NFIRS reports the fire-department suppression efforts; BATS documents the follow-up investigation. BATS allows users to search for case similarities nationwide to discover whether the same individual, IED, or arson is related to an investigation in another jurisdiction.

That is just the beginning… BATS also delivers arson and explosives advisories from ATF and has other features designed to meet your specific needs, such as an Investigative Resources Library. As a matter of fact, it was developed based on feedback from State and local bomb technicians and fire/arson investigators. BATS 5.0 features improvements resulting from the 2010 State/local BATS users' conference. Each agency administers their BATS account! The U.S. Bomb Data Center (USBDC) simply keeps it running.

Highlights from the New Version – BATS 5!

The latest version is packed with features from last year's BATS users' conference to include:

  • Icons and decision wizards for maximum ease of use
  • The ability to create customized drop-down pick lists, narrative templates, and a charges tab
  • De-confliction checks to determine if the incident is already in the system and multi-jurisdictional collaboration capabilities
  • Automatic nationwide searches for possible leads in other jurisdictions
  • Upgraded IED Design Tool with device profiling
  • Automated HDS Bomb Squad Statistical Report
  • Automated Fire Marshal Summary Form
  • Automated UCR Monthly Arson Reporting Form
  • Improved incident reports and management tools to include the supervisor review tool
  • A canine management tool
  • A new "dispatch/support" user role

BATS works on Computer Tablets such as the iPad®.

  • The ability to track hours in incidents
  • The ability to upload multiple files at the same time
  • The ability to link "activities" to "incidents."
  • . . and many more.

BATS was developed by you and for you. You run BATS! The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) simply keep it running. BATS is the first place you should go to document your explosives and arson investigations. Without it, you may waste precious time trying to locate other cases containing similar characteristics. But with BATS, this information is available with the click of the mouse.

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  • BATS: Expanding the Fire Department Toolkit