Fire and Rescue NSW ignitable-liquid detection dogs

Key facts

Jurisdiction or service context

New South Wales, Australia; Fire and Rescue NSW [source]

Programme focus

Canine support for fire origin and cause investigation [source]

A specialist part of fire investigation

Fire and Rescue NSW describes its ignitable-liquid detection programme as a way to help investigators focus attention across a fire scene. The public account explains that a dog and handler can cover an area and identify places for further fire origin and cause analysis. This is distinct from a disaster dog searching for people. It is also distinct from a dog detecting an active fire in a household. The organisational context is specialist investigation, with findings contributing to the work of the fire service, police and the Coroner’s Office as appropriate.

A history of named canine partnerships

The service traces the K9 project to 1995 and names dogs and handlers from its development, including Sabre, Kova and Ellie. Its programme history also refers to university research connected with evaluating canine performance. Such details make the primary source useful for documenting how an investigative capability developed. Each name, service period and research reference should remain attached to the original account. A later dog does not inherit an earlier animal’s career or evaluation findings simply by joining the same programme. Historical service names should also be preserved when describing the source of a dog.

Why an indication is only one part of the evidence

For a clear public explanation, separate the search, the location identified for further attention, subsequent examination and the investigation’s conclusion. A dog’s involvement does not by itself prove arson, identify a suspect or establish how a material came to be present. A feature article can describe the partnership and programme history without asserting a conclusion about a specific fire that the responsible investigators have not published. Access to a fire scene is controlled, so photography and interviews require the relevant service process. This guide deliberately provides no preparation of ignitable materials, training samples or scene-search instructions.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• Fire and Rescue NSW — Ignitable Liquid Detection Canine (opens in a new tab)
• OSAC — fire and explosion investigation technical guidance, hosted by NIST (opens in a new tab)

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