As fire danger spikes ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is unleashing its secret weapon: highly trained K-9s that can sniff out the smallest traces of accelerants. The dogs are tasked to use their noses of justice to uncover the origin, cause and circumstances of fires and explosions in the state as part of Cal Fire’s Arson and Bomb Unit’s K-9 program.
Mocha, a 3-year-old chocolate Labrador, is part of the specially trained accelerant detection K-9 brigade. She works side by side with arson and bomb Investigator Charlie Elder to track down evidence and determine the cause of wildfires. “She makes the community safer,” Elder said, explaining that Mocha is capable of investigating the entire area of a fire scene and tracing more than 60 different odors, including charcoal, gasoline, diesel and mineral oil, that are commonly used in arson or suspicious fire.
“Their noses are very valuable. She’s been very accurate when there’s been ignitable liquids and where there’s not been any ignitable liquids,” said Elder. When she discovers a scent, Mocha alerts her partner by sitting or laying down and then is rewarded with her favorite tennis ball that she chews up. The K-9 program was developed to include not only ignitable liquid detection canines, but explosives and firearms detection dogs, further expanding the capabilities and meeting the needs of arson and bomb investigations.
