
The training class is four weeks long and the handlers know it will be intense. They can locate accelerants quickly, even if it is buried under debris.Ĭanine handlers are police detectives or fire investigators. Their “reward” is a handful of dog food and praise. When the dog smells fuel, they sit down and point with their nose. The dogs are trained months before they meet their human handler and must work for every meal. Arson dog teams can quickly locate evidence of accelerants such as gasoline or fuel used to start a fire.” Meeting and training with a new best friendĪll of the dogs are Labrador retrievers and come from animal rescues or disability assistance programs. “These dogs help fire investigators to do their job. "Fire investigators should have every tool possible to combat this deadly crime," said Heather Paul, State Farm Arson Dog Program Coordinator. In fact, many police and fire departments are seeing an increase in suspicious fires because of business closures, financial challenges and social disruption.

Insurance fraud causes billions of dollars in damage each year. Since its beginning in 1993, the program has placed more than 425 dogs in 46 states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia.Īrson is one of the most difficult crimes to solve, as the evidence literally burns up. The State Farm Arson Dog Program is available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the United States. State Farm is the only company in North America that provides funding for the training of arson dog teams. The dogs are searching for accelerants such as gas, oil or fuel used to start fires. Thanks to the State Farm Arson Dog Program, fire investigators have a secret weapon to locate evidence when arson is suspected.Īrson dogs are trained to work with a human handler and find evidence at fire scenes. While most are accidental, fires started with gas or fuel to destroy property is a crime.
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Fire is devastating for any homeowner, small business or community.
