Why do we have Fire Investigation Dogs?
The Fire Investigation Dogs, Cracker and Kilo, who have Ken Bennett
as their handler, play a crucial role in determining the cause of
suspicious fires involving flammable liquids.
Following a fire, where the cause is believed to involve arson,
Ken is alerted by Control to respond to the scene.
The dogs are highly trained to sniff out any signs of an
accelerant used to advance the growth of the fire. They are
trained to detect up to 12 flammable liquids including petrol,
diesel and white spirit.
Fire and rescue services, alongside many other emergency
responders, use dogs because their noses have 200 million
receptors, compared to 5 million in human. This means that
the dogs can find and locate minute quantities of ignitable liquid
traces much more quickly and accurately than electronic equipment.
They can also cover a greater area of space in a very short
time.
Cracker and Kilo also have a key role to play in deterring
potential arsonists, as they attend a wide range of community
safety events. From show casing what they do with interactive
demonstrations at events like the Bristol Balloon Fiesta to
visiting young people in schools where talks are being given on the
dangers of fire and the consequences of deliberate fire
setting.
About the dogs
Cracker
Age: Seven
Breed: Black Labrador
Favourite food / treat: Pro Plan Salmon &
Rice/ Sardines
Favourite toy: Tennis ball
Expert in: Large Open Area searches
Likes and dislikes: Long walks and playing with
his ball/ Bath times and being told off.
Kilo
Age: Six
Breed: Springer Spaniel
Favourite food / treat: Pro Plan Salmon &
Rice/ Sardines
Favourite toy: Tennis ball
Expert in: Confined space searches
Likes and dislikes: Walks that include a river to
play in but like Cracker he also disappears when the bath comes
out!