DALLAS FIRE-RESCUE

Typically, Dallas Fire-Rescue responds to about 2,000 structure fires each year.  Several hundred of these are determined to be arson fires and damage estimates are over $20 million.  Over 1,000 arson vehicle fires are investigated and each year, an average of 15 people lose their lives as a result of fire.  The Department is committed to reducing the loss of lives and property from fire through aggressive investigation and criminal prosecution.  This goal can be enhanced with the implementation of the Accelerant Detection Canine to address today’s arson threat to the general public and to assist the fire investigator in the collection of field samples for lab analysis. 

ACCELERANT DETECTION CANINES

Canines can pinpoint traces that escape electronic detection.  Mechanical hydrocarbon detectors are sensitive to gasoline components in parts per million (ppm).  The smallest amount detectable by dogs is .01 micro liters, or 1,000th of a drop, of 50% evaporated gasoline, 100% of the time.  Also, a canine can differentiate between products of combustions and similar chemical gases found at fire scenes from true accelerants, which mechanical detectors cannot.

Canines are more adaptable and more accurate than mechanical equipment.  This accuracy can help pinpoint the location of accelerants in a shorter time, thereby reducing the field time of investigators searching and processing a fire scene.  The use of canines can reduce the number of samples that need to be collected and tested.  It is also documented that samples submitted from canine teams for laboratory analysis result in a positive test for ignitable liquids over 90% of the time, compared to 30% for the investigators alone.

Read about Ashly in Fire Dog Heroes