Published May 4, 2021 •
Updated on May 4, 2021 at 4:40 pm
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Arson dog handlers from Saginaw, Kauffman, and San Antonio completed their annual recertification on Monday.
Investigators and their K9 partners sniff out evidence at fire scenes across their communities and beyond, State Farm said.
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Arson dog teams are trained to locate potential evidence of arson following a fire.
Texas News
KAAL-TV Created: February 10, 2021 10:09 PM
(ABC 6 News) - The Rochester Fire Department has a new team of special investigators now on duty
Chris Ferguson joins the Rochester Fire department as the Fire Marshal. He comes to the department with 15 years of experience in the fire service. Chris has been partnered with Arson K9 Radar as part of the State Farm Arson Dog Program for the last 4 years. Arson K9 Radar is trained to detect accelerants during fire investigations.
They will be an invaluable asset to the City of Rochester.
Accelerant detection canines are trained to sniff out minute traces of accelerants (gasoline, lighter fluid, etc.) that may have been used to start a fire. Each dog works and lives with their handler, a law enforcement officer or firefighter trained to investigate fire scenes. The canine and handler are required to complete 200 hours of training.
GIRARD There’s a furry addition to the Girard Fire Department.
Maya, a 2-year-old yellow lab who can sniff out arson accelerants, has not only helped Girard, but Trumbull and Mahoning counties as well during her four months with the team.
“In both counties she’s been out around 18 times last year and two times so far this year,” Maya’s handler, Thomas Cantola, said.
Cantola is an arson investigator with Girard and the Trumbull County Fire Investigation Unit.
Maya joined the department in September, and fire Chief Ken Bornemiss said she’s a useful tool for the department.
“Having her is a huge benefit to us and the entire county,” he said, “But to have her here, it’s much more of a benefit rather than a bother… That’s why I agreed to (getting her) almost immediately, as did our mayor and safety director.”