Fire Dogs Take a Bite Out of Arson!
Accelerant Detection
Since 1988, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control has been investigating fires with the help of specially
trained dogs. These dogs respond to fires across the entire New York State.
Dogs have long been recognized for their keen sense of smell
and their ability to be trained to use that sense of smell to
identify specific materials. The most common are those used to detect illegal drugs. Our first two dogs, Hershey and Buddy,
were trained at the Atlantic City, New Jersey, police academy as accelerant detection dogs. The dogs are trained to detect
even the smallest amounts of several different flammable and combustible liquids. They are also conditioned to work
from aerial ladder devices, boats, in helicopters and in burned-out buildings.
The training of the dogs takes eight weeks and is done with a praise reward training method. After the dogs are
trained, they are then tested against samples that have been evaluated in a New York State Police evidence laboratory
and have been proven to contain small traces of flammable liquids. They must detect and discriminate the test material
in a burned-out room, in a snow-covered field, in the back seat of a car, or in any other place this material may be used
to start a fire.
The work of investigating a fire has truly gone to the dogs.
Today fire investigation teams of a handler and a dog are being trained at the Academy of Fire Science,
and there are several teams operating all across the state. The dogs have not totally replaced the work of a trained fire
investigator, but they are making it a lot easier and faster for the fire investigators to do their work.
FAQs
- If a flammable liquid, such as gasoline, is used to start a fire, wouldn't
it all burn up and not leave a trace of evidence?
-
No. Even after an intense fire involving flammable liquids, a trained fire investigation team can locate
the presence of the accelerant that was used to start or spread the fire.
- With many jobs going high-tech with sophisticated computer equipment,
has fire investigation also gone high-tech?
-
Yes. The latest high-tech instrument is the nose of man's best friend: a dog.
-
Bryant D. Stevens
State Fire Administrator
The members of OFPC are dedicated to the advancement of sound fire safety practices by all citizens of NY and increasing the effectiveness and proficiency of the State's fire service.
This website is part of these efforts and we trust that the information provided will assist all of us in achieving a more fire safe NY.
