Tony a Fire Accelerant Detection Dog (Brian Stanley~Sun-Times Media)
Indicators of an incendiary fire or arson can lead fire investigators to look for the presence of accelerants in fire debris. Accelerants can leave behind evidence of their presence and use sometimes too subtle for the human eyes or nose to detect. Accelerants present in areas they should not be can indicate an incendiary fire or arson but in order to make that determination special tools have to be used. One such tool that proves its value time after time are special dogs known as accelerant detection canines who literally train to smell ignitable liquids often in amount so minute after the fire manufactured devices cannot detect them on a burned out room. Dogs will smell the air and be able to track the scent back to its most concentrated source in order for fire investigators to investigate the area further.
Thirty-seven accelerant sniffing dogs and their handlers stayed in Joliet. Illinois where re-certification seminars were held. In order to receive their re-certification the dogs were run through and searched for accelerants at a vacant house on Ottawa Street used by the local fire department for training. For certification, each dog went through an area with as many as 40 cans of burnt materials, including carpeting, clothing and dog food. Each dog had to identify the six that were “spiked” with gasoline and other common accelerants.
Labradors are often selected for arson investigation if they fail out of seeing-eye dog programs. Not every dog is cut out to be a seeing eye dog or other service provider due to their temperaments either too hyper or don’t learn to perform their tasks quick enough. They are still highly trained from a young age and often do well in other fields. Labradors have a good general demeanor and a willingness to work in not so ideal conditions, such as being surrounded by burned debris, broken glass, and structural damage to the property so they make a perfect fit with their nose able to smell things that their human handlers cannot. The object that they alert to as having possible traces of accelerant are brought back to a lab for more complete testing.
For more information about the recent re-certification event:
http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/6115685-418/joliet-dog-one-of-few-accelerant-sniffing-canines-in-u.s.
Great article. Labs make great search dogs too, but I can see how this field is just made for them. When trained, they are very sure footed and can avoid injuries easily because of their agility and grace…..
Bert
I wish my dog can be a Detection Dog someday. I always find it cool for dogs that have specialized jobs such as fire detectors. Where do they train such dogs?