The U.S. Fire Administration released the Interstate 35W Bridge Collapse and Response Technical Report. The report examines the area's emergency preparedness for, and response to, the Aug. 1, 2007 bridge collapse in Minneapolis that killed 13 and injured 121 others.

"To the nation's firefighters, collapse of structure is something for which they all plan and prepare. The uniqueness of this bridge collapse, and the challenges faced by firefighters and their command staffs, offers an opportunity for firefighters across this nation to learn from the Minnesota response to this event. As a result, firefighters continue their efforts to prepare for any and all emergencies nationwide," said Fire Administrator Greg Cade.

Just after 6 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2007, the 40-year-old bridge collapsed into the river and its banks without warning. At the time, there were approximately 120 vehicles carrying 160 people on the bridge. The impact of the fall broke the span into multiple planes of broken steel and crushed concrete. Cars, buses, and trucks — all resting precariously along guardrails or suddenly unprotected edges — crashed into other vehicles, partially embedded in the muddy river bank, or dropped precipitously into the river.

The local response to the bridge disaster — and the coordination with metro, state, and federal partners — demonstrated the extraordinary value of comprehensive disaster planning and training. The city's ability to respond had evolved over several years of investing heavily and widely in all the elements that make a crucial difference when disaster strikes. Their investment covered widespread training on the National Incident Management System that extended beyond city department heads and into all employee levels. Over half of the city's 4,000 employees have received NIMS training.