(Fargo, ND) -- The Red River Valley Bomb Squad spoke with WDAY Radio about the pressures they face and safety measures their organizations go through on each call.
Red River Valley Bomb Squad Commander Tim Runcorn describes putting on the protective suit, and what it is like to walk head-on into dangerous scenarios.
"It's very claustrophobic, "said Runcorn, "You're putting on a hundred-pound bomb suit going downrange to sit over a package. We try to do everything as safe as possible and as remote as possible... which is why we have the two robots... but in the end someone has to go down and take care of the final job."
Runcorn says the bomb squad's job isn't only to investigate suspicious packages.
"Their whole thing is 'well, we didn't want to call to make a concern,' well, that's why we are here, "said Runcorn, "If it's bad enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, that is when those phone calls need to be made."
The commanders says they have been called to pick up items like fireworks, ammo, and even hand grenades.