A cloud of heat and smoke erupts from the wreckage after a 1,500 pound explosive detonated Sept. 27 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The controlled explosion was to set a scene for the FBI’s large vehicle bomb post-blast school this week. State and county law enforcement, along with Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians, learned the proper procedures to investigate and maintain a large scale vehicle explosion. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Detective Damon Sullivan, from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and others interview the key witnesses at the scene of the blast as a storm cloud rolls across Eglin Air Force Base’s range Sept. 28. The interviews were part of the FBI's large vehicle post blast school attended by state and local law enforcement agencies as well as Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians. Three vehicles were blown up to create the crime scenes that students would investigate. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.) A small flame still burns one of the engine belts of an 8,000 pound truck after it exploded Sept. 27 on Eglin Air Force Base's range. The detonation created a crime scene for the FBI's large vehicle post blast school. State and county law enforcement, along with Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians, learned the proper procedures to investigate and maintain a large scale vehicle explosion. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) The front half of a pick-up truck was all that remained after 150 pounds of explosives were detonated inside it Sept. 27 on Eglin Air Force Base's range. The detonation created a crime scene for the FBI's large vehicle post blast school. State and county law enforcement, along with Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians, learned the proper procedures to investigate and maintain a large scale vehicle explosion. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Staff Sgt. Aaron Carroll, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron, searches for a vehicle identification number among the wreckage of a pick-up truck Sept. 28 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The investigation was part of the FBI's large vehicle post blast school attended by state and local law enforcement agencies as well as Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians. Three vehicles were blown up to create the crime scenes that students would investigate. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.) Chief Petty Officer Jack Hanson, of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6 from Naval Air Station Mayport, and others scavenge the post-blast scene for evidence and clues as to the cause of the explosion Sept. 28 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The investigation was part of the FBI's large vehicle post blast school attended by state and local law enforcement agencies as well as Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians. Three vehicles were blown up to create the crime scenes that students would investigate. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.) A mangled rear tire rim was flung almost 100 feet when the vehicle was detonated Sept. 27 on Eglin Air Force Base's range. The detonation created a crime scene for the FBI's large vehicle post blast school. State and county law enforcement, along with Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians, learned the proper procedures to investigate and maintain a large scale vehicle explosion. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) A line of investigators walk the blast zone looking for clues and evidence as to the cause of the explosion Sept. 28 on the Eglin Air Force Base range. The investigation was part of the FBI's large vehicle post blast school attended by state and local law enforcement agencies as well as Navy and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians. Three vehicles were blown up to create the crime scenes that students would investigate. The week-long course was the second held on Eglin with 67 students representing 18 different U.S. agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.) FBI hosts blast investigation training at Eglin by Samuel King Jr. Team Eglin Public Affairs 10/3/2011 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Improvised explosive devices ripped through three vehicles, sending debris up and out as far as 1,500 feet, creating a sprawling scene of devastation across Eglin's ranges Sept. 27. The explosions initiated the FBI's Large Vehicle Bomb Post Blast School for approximately 53 state and local law enforcement officers as well as Naval and Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians. There were four explosions in all, creating distinct "crime scenes" that included a roadside bomb. Crime scene investigators from 18 different U.S. agencies had to pick up the pieces--literally--from the scattered wreckage that set the forensic groundwork for a criminal or terrorist investigation. "It's up to them to determine what kind of vehicle blew up," said Special Agent Kevin Miles, who taught the week-long school. "You'd be surprised at how much is left. The students just have to find it and build a case from the clues." This was the 128th post-blast school class held by the FBI and only the second held on Eglin's ranges. The class was dedicated to Tech. Sgt. Daniel Douville, Eglin's own EOD technician who fell in the line of duty in June. "Eglin's large scale range made it a perfect size for a big group and also provided options for multiple scenarios," said Special Agent Sam Mum, a bomb technician with FBI in Jacksonville, Fla. "We hope to continue the relationship with the base and host a school here every year." The groups were split into teams by specialty prior to arriving at the scene. The on-scene commander assigned the teams a task and scene to begin investigating. Their goal was to estimate the quantity and type of explosives used, vehicle type and blast range. "This training will become a crucial tool in their toolbag," said Mum. "If there's an incident, typically local law enforcement is the first on scene. With this training, they are able to assess the situation, gather information and determine the best procedures." Those assessments help determine if the blast is an act of terrorism. If it is ruled as a terrorist act, the FBI has the lead in the investigation. With the training, the students can better prepare the scene and the FBI for what to expect upon arrival. Airmen from Tyndall's EOD flight attended the school and Eglin's EOD was responsible for the controlled detonations. The Airmen worked directly with law enforcement officials and shared ideas and expertise when working through the case. The training also helped the military technicians build off the training they already had, according to Staff Sgt. Aaron Carroll, from the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron. "This course provides insight we can use on post-blast scenes we may encounter when we deploy," Carroll said. "It provides experience on what to look for, so we can accurately analyze the scene quicker while in a hostile environment." Detective Alex Manjasek, of the Daytona Beach Police Department, and two others interviewed key witnesses at the blast scene. "As an instructor in my department, I'll definitely take back what I learned and pass it along," said Manjasek. "The course gives us a clearer understanding of how to respond to such an incident and assist." After the teams gathered their evidence, they presented their case to a prosecutor. For this class, Ryan Love, assistant U.S. attorney for Pensacola, Fla., grilled them on the details of their case to ensure nothing could be left to chance or circumstance and proper procedures were followed. After presenting their findings, the students saw a video of the set ups, explosives and detonations to find out if their case was sound. "Truly, my hats off to you guys," said Love. "You play such an important role in these cases. I visited the Oklahoma City bombing museum recently and thought about how difficult it would be to stay focused on the mission amid the chaos of a blast scene. You have to fall back on your training and courses like this."