Reno Reporter

City of Reno issued the following announcement on June 2.

The Reno Fire Department’s (RFD) newest crime fighter has four legs and a keen sense of smell, giving him a nose-up on arsonists. K-9 Boston, a Labrador retriever, is RFD’s first accelerant detection specialist.

Boston and Fire Investigator/K-9 handler Sean O’Brien recently graduated from the State Farm® Arson Dog Training Program in New Hampshire and bring a valuable set of skills to the Nevada fire service. Boston was introduced to the public earlier today in a media event held on the Reno City Plaza, then at the Reno City Council meeting.

“This is an exciting day for the Reno Fire Department,” said Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran. “Boston has been a welcome and energetic addition to our department. In 2020, our Arson Unit investigated more than 200 fires. Boston will help this dedicated team at RFD apprehend dangerous criminals and save lives.”

Since its beginning in 1993, the State Farm Arson Dog Program has placed more than 425 dogs in 46 states, three Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. All accelerant detection canine teams are trained by Maine Specialty Dogs and certified by the Maine State Police. The program is available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the United States.

“This means a great deal to State Farm, fire departments, and local communities,” said Kenneth Whitehair, State Farm Vice President—Agency. “The scope of arson goes beyond impacting insurance companies; it affects the personal and financial well-being of a community. These K-9s enable investigators to do their job more efficiently and effectively.”

Fire Investigator O’Brien will be participating in investigations immediately. The team will also be conducting public demonstrations showcasing K-9 Boston’s accelerant detection sniffing abilities at schools and throughout the community at various safety events.

K-9 Boston is one of two arson dogs in service in the state, trained through the State Farm program this year. North Las Vegas introduced K-9 Jersey and Captain Darcy Loewen recently to Nevada.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated 280,000 intentional fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year, with associated annual losses of 420 civilian deaths, 1,360 civilian injuries, and $1.3 billion in direct property damage. The actual number of arson fires and amount of property damage is likely much higher as arson is an underreported crime. Arson dogs played a key role in helping to determine the cause of many of these fires.

Original source can be found here.