Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas/Contingency Plan For Fire

by Edward S.G. Dennis, Jr.

The FBI anticipated the possibility of fire. Fire trucks were kept far from the scene because the heavy weaponry of the Davidians was too dangerous to the fire fighters. Fire equipment was kept on alert several miles away.

The arson report recognized that there was a delay in the arrival of fire fighting equipment on the scene, but also concluded that "a fire such as this would have likely been too far advanced for effective extinguishment" even under "more favorable" fire fighting circumstances. Therefore, it is unlikely that the lack of more accessible fire fighting equipment impacted the outcome.