• Arson is a major problem in the United Kingdom, being responsible for over a third of all fires. It is a particular problem with property fires where the use of accelerant is a common source of ignition. In a novel development, West Midlands Fire Service is using a dog to help investigate such incidents, as DO Rob Hulland reports.

HYDROCARBON DETECTOR DOG HELPS INVESTIGATORS

As a result, it was decided to select and recruit a suitable dog for this purpose. Eagle Star agreed to fund the project after the brigade approached the insurance industry for sponsorship. An eight-month-old Labrador named Star was selected after an appropriate behavioural assessment was carried out and will be the first hydrocarbon detector dog in the UK used for arson investigation.

Fire investigators have traditionally relied on either their own sense of smell or, where available, a hydrocarbon gas detector to detect the presence of accelerant. Both of these have a limited capability only. Using a dog's olfactory senses offers a considerable improvement in detecting the presence of accelerant.

Having been trained at kennels in Worcestershire, Star has now joined the West Midlands Fire Service and works with its Fire Research and Investigation Section. The dog has been conditioned to alert to the presence of the eight most commonly identified accelerants identified at fire scenes, as well as differentiating from those hydrocarbon materials naturally produced in fires.

DRUGS AND EXPLOSIVES

This research by the US Department of Justice and the Connecticut State Police established three principal points:

1. A dog can be conditioned to respond to specific odours.
2. The dog can respond to those specific odours with greater sensitivity than field hydrocarbon detection equipment currently available.
3. A dog can differentiate between accelerants and similar chemical compounds normally present at fire scenes. This is something that hydrocarbon gas detection equipment cannot do and often results in the equipment giving false 'positive' indications.

The canine olfactory system is capable of detecting minute traces of a substance, eg somewhere in the order or 0.01 microlitres of petroleum spirit under normal conditions. The level of detection is estimated to be over 200 times more sensitive than the human olfactory system.

Once introduced to the fire scene and directed to work, the dog carried out a random search procedure until it detects airborne particles of the accelerant. At this point, it will move towards the source in a more concentrated search pattern. Having located the source, the dog will communicate this fact to its handler by an action known as 'alerting'.

Star alerts by sitting down close to the source and will wait until directed to indicate the exact position. The dog then touches the spot with its paw and this is the location where a sample should be taken for analysis. The analysis is carried out by the Scenes of Crime Officer. The dog is praised as a reward for its efforts.

The concept of 'one dog - one handler' has been recognised as the most effective means of operation due to the relationship that must exist between them. The handler is a member of the fire investigation section and when off duty the dog resides at the handlers home and becomes a part of the family. When on duty the handler and dog will both attend any incident, whether or not the dog is needed.

Upon arrival at the fire scene, the handler will leave the dog inside his vehicle while an assessment of the fire scene is carried out. The handler is primarily a fire investigator and will attempt to establish the cause and origin of the fire.

If the investigator suspects that accelerants have been used, then the dog will be introduced to the scene, but only after two factors have been considered.

1. First, the fire would have been extinguished and the route to and from the area of search made safe. No handler would commit a dog into a dangerous situation. The safety of the dog is paramount and the handler will have paw protectors available if there is any likelihood of injury to the dog's paws.
2. Secondly, the actual route of approach and search pattern needs to be considered in order to reduce the possibility of cross contamination.

It has been established that a dog can detect the presence of the accelerants up to 18 days after the fire has been extinguished and this negates the need for the dog to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The dog will also have veterinary back-up facilities available and will be given an annual check up to ensure its health and welfare.

In conclusion, West Midlands Fire Service believes that hydrocarbon detector dogs have a role to play in the detection and prevention of arson. By publicising the work of its dog in the media, it may actually deter some of the opportunist arsonists from committing their crimes, while at the same time assisting in the prosecution of others.