Topic: Gas Tanks

On April 19th, tanks began demolishing the walls of the compound to insert CS gas, a move authorized by Attorney General Janet Reno with the knowledge of President Bill Clinton. While the FBI claimed the gas was non-lethal, the program describes it as a painful irritant intended to wear down resistance. Reports indicate that approximately 200 rounds of gas were lobbed into the building as M60 tanks breached the structure.

Jack DeVault disputes the official fire investigation led by Paul Gray, which concluded the Branch Davidians started the blaze. DeVault presents an alternative theory, suggesting that the fire was likely caused by tanks breaching the building and knocking over lanterns or igniting flammable materials. He notes that the fire became visible on infrared cameras within 45 seconds of a tank backing out of the structure.

Ophelia Santoyo details the destruction of children's toys, motorcycles, and go-karts by federal tanks during the siege. She notes that even the children's sandbox and the family's cars were crushed, which she views as a deliberate attempt to terrorize the residents.

The segment features archival news audio from the final day of the siege, April 19, 1993. Reporters describe tanks breaching the compound walls and injecting CS gas into the structure. The news reports detail the unfurling of a banner by the Davidians requesting phone repairs and the subsequent escalation by federal agents who used tanks to demolish sections of the building.

On the final day of the siege, Combat Engineering Vehicles (CEVs) penetrated the walls of Mount Carmel to inject CS gas, which is banned by the Geneva Convention for warfare. Agents fired approximately 300 ferret rounds into the building while claiming over loudspeakers that they were not conducting an assault. The tanks demolished structural sections, including the chapel and foyer, while spraying gas at point-blank range into areas where women and children were sheltering.

As the siege neared its end, federal agents increased psychological pressure by demanding residents stay away from windows and the tower. During a recorded phone call, a negotiator asked Steve Schneider if the group had fire extinguishers; when Schneider confirmed they had only one, the negotiator reportedly told him to "get some fire insurance." This exchange is viewed by survivors as evidence that the government anticipated or planned the subsequent fire.