United States Department of Justice

“ In summary, no evidence has been found to support the claim that CEV-1, or any other government vehicle, started the fire at the compound. In fact, as this report has shown, there is conclusive evidence that the Branch Davidians started the fire. Nevertheless, our findings may not convince those who will believe only what they want to believe. We are confident, however, that our findings represent the truth. ”

“ When the Davidians started shooting the scope and pace of the operation changed. Although envisioned originally as an incremental operation which could take as long as two to three days to complete, the operations plan took account of the possibility that the Davidians might respond to the limited nature of the initial gassing operations by opening-fire. Under that operations plan, as approved by the Attorney General, "If during any tear gas delivery operations, subjects open fire with a weapon, then the FBI rules of engagement will apply and appropriate deadly force will be used. ”

“ HRT Commander Rogers received confirmation that Sage had made telephonic contact with the compound. Rogers ordered CEV-1 to insert gas, using the Mark-V liquid injection system to insert CS gas at the front-left corner of the building. The Mark-V system is a liquid tear gas dispenser that shoots a stream of liquid tear gas (propelled by noncombustible carbon dioxide) approximately 50 feet for a duration of approximately 15 seconds. The boom was positioned at the level of the first floor windows, and there were four Mark-V bottles attached to the boom. ”

“ Graeme Craddock spoke to the FBI on April 19, after he emerged from the compound. He also spoke to the Texas Rangers on April 19. In his FBI interview, Craddock described the events inside the compound during the tear gas operation as follows:
"Craddock advised that when the Bradley came in through the front entrance, they started moving fuel. Craddock believes that the compound had a total of approximately one dozen, one gallon containers of lantern fuel and that they had been located in the lobby area. He said he saw a lot of people grabbing fuel containers and moving them to other areas. ”

“ Thompson alleges that one of the CEVs started the fire. To support her claim, Ms. Thompson shows video footage of the April 19 operation, including one scene in which a CEV backs out of the building. As the boom leaves the building, it appears that a burst of flame can be seen at the end of the boom. According to Ms. Thompson, that scene establishes that the FBI used the CEV to start the fire inside the compound deliberately.
We have investigated Ms. Thompson's claims and find them baseless. The specific CEV that Ms. Thompson claims emitted a flame has been identified as CEV-1. ”

“ CEV-2 breached a hole in the second floor of the back-right corner of the building.
At 7:45 a.m. senior FBI officials in the SIOC requested that Quantico canvass all FBI field offices to locate more Ferret rounds. Given the number of rounds that had been fired during the first two hours of the operation and the apparently minimal effect they were having, the FBI evidently expected the operation to continue for quite some time, and it needed to obtain more gas rounds. (At 9:20 a.m. the Houston FBI delivered an extra 48 ferret rounds to the HRT in Waco.) ”

“ At 2P47 p.m. the negotiators called the compound and spoke to Schneider in an attempt to reassure him and Koresh about the clearing operation and the (ostensible) reasons for it. The negotiators told Schneider that the vehicles were being removed to facilitate the safe exit from the compound of anyone who wanted to leave, as well as to improve the safety of the FBI agents. The negotiators reiterated that no one should enter the tower. Schneider replied that "You guys will have to do what you have to do. If you want to shoot anyone up there, go ahead. ”

“ Craddock said that although he was not aware of any prior plan by Koresh to set the building on fire, Koresh had discussed the possibility that "everyone" would be killed as one possible outcome of the standoff.
6. Firefighting Efforts In one of the meetings held in Waco in early April to discuss the gas insertion plan, AUSA LeRoy Jahn raised the possibility of fire at the compound and suggested to the FBI that firefighting equipment be placed on standby at the scene. ”

“ The substitute CEV-2 breached the back side of the compound (to open avenues of escape, as well as areas into which tear gas could be deployed by CEV-1 and the M-79 Ferret launchers) , concentrating on the back-right corner of the building, near the warehouse/gymnasium. The negotiators tried to call inside the compound. At 11:27 a.m., the negotiators tried calling inside the compound, even though the phone probably was not working. They let the phone ring 20 times ”

“ Linda Thompson [2] of an organization identifying itself as the "American Justice Federation." In the video (which Ms. Thompson has supplied to television stations and politicians throughout the country) , Ms. ”