Dogs are known to be man's best friend but they can also be the best partner a fire investigator can have. The Accelerant Detection K-9 can be of great assistance in detecting and locating the presence of flammable and combustible liquids used to commit the crime of arson. In this area we will highlight K-9s available in Minnesota and provide information regarding there use as it becomes available to us.

MEET Gordy and Nick of the Cloquet Fire Department:

Biography:

Certified Accelerant Detection K-9 handler Gordy Meagher and his partner "Nick" are 1 of 2 such teams in the State of Minnesota. Trained as a team in August of 2001 at the Maine State Police Arson K-9 School, both are experienced on locating gasoline and other accelerants used by arsonists to intentionally start fires. The team works out of the Cloquet area sniffing through fire scenes, educating schools and other community organizations on the dangers of fire. Gordy has worked in the Fire/EMS field since 1990-91 and is currently employed as a FF/NREMT-P, Fire Investigator with the Cloquet Fire Department.

Activation Criteria:

It is the policy of the City of Cloquet to make every effort possible to assist requesting agencies in determining origin and cause of a fire. Public Fire/Law Enforcement personnel may request the K-9 Team whenever any of the following circumstances exist:

1. Arson, incendiary or suspicious fires.

2. Evidence or suspicions of any crime having occurred in connection with the emergency incident.

3. Fires resulting in injuries or fatalities.

4. Fires in connection or resulting from an explosion.

5. Major fires with significant property or monetary losses.

The K-9 can also be requested to search woods, fields, and any open spaces to locate evidence and will perform scent discrimination on any/all collected evidence.

ON- Scene Protocol:

Upon arrival on the scene, I will look for the lead investigator and an evaluation of the fire scene will be conducted. K-9 Safety is the main priority! The sole decision lies with the K-9 Handler. If the structure is deemed safe, a systematic "sniff" pattern will be utilized throughout the entire structure to locate possible accelerant usage. If a certain area is recognized to contain a possible accelerant, this area will be marked with a golf tee and later collected into evidence. Once all evidence has been collected, a scent discrimination test will be conducted in a neutral area to confirm the samples. This is completed to make sure the proper area has been collected and to increase the accuracy rate of positive samples.

Donation Procedure:

The City of Cloquet does not bill the requesting agency for its services. However, it does openly accept donations which are placed directly into the city’s general fund and are used to purchase dog food, training supplies, evidence cans, etc. Donations can be sent to the following address:

City of Cloquet Fire Department
C/O Arson K-9 Fund
508 Cloquet Avenue
Cloquet, Minnesota 55720

Liability Issues:

Each time the K-9 Unit is requested and travels outside of its primary service area, the sole responsibility lies within the City of Cloquet. This is provided on a signed document by all interested parties. Any agency requesting a copy of this document for there files may contact me directly.

Contact Information:

The K-9 Unit frequently responds to fire scenes throughout the State of Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin, day or night, to assist investigators at fire scenes. Activation can be made by utilizing the numbers provided below. If a fire occurs and you are not sure if it falls into the above criteria, feel free to call and I will answer any/all of your questions.

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Copyright © 1999 Minnesota Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators
Last modified: November 17, 2005