As fire risks surge ahead of the July 4 holiday, California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention will unleash its secret weapons. The highly trained K-9 sniffs the smallest traces of the accelerator.
Dogs are entrusted with using the nose of justice to clarify the origins, causes and circumstances of the state’s fires and explosions as part of the Cal Fire arson and bomb unit K-9 program.
Mocha, a 3-year-old chocolate label Labrador, is part of a specially trained accelerated detection K-9 brigade. She works alongside arson and bomb investigator Charlie Elder to track evidence and determine the cause of the wildfire.
“She makes the community safer,” the elder says, explaining that Mocha can investigate all areas of the fire site, traces more than 60 odors commonly used in arson and suspicious fires, including charcoal, gasoline, diesel and mineral oil.
“Their noses are incredibly valuable. She was very accurate when there was a liquid that ignites and no liquid that was easy to ignite,” the elder said.
When she discovers the scent, Mocha warns her partner by sitting and lying down, then rewards with her favorite tennis ball that she chews.
The K-9 program has been developed to include not only ignitable liquid detection KaiNines, but also explosives and firearm detection dogs, further expanding its capabilities and meeting the needs of arson and bomb investigations.
Additionally, K-9 heroes can be used to assist local jurisdictions that do not have the resources to investigate whether a fire or explosion is inherently criminal, according to Cal Fire.
The Cal Fire and K-9 units are expected to have a fierce Independence Day, with cookouts and fireworks expected to be used after last year’s holiday.
In 2024, 14,700 people were injured in fireworks, an increase of 52% from 9,700 in 2023, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is the biggest increase since 2020 and the second largest in the last 25 years.
Additionally, multiple wildfires have been hit statewide over this holiday weekend. The Riverside County wolves grow over 2,400 acres and grow at 40% containment, but the Juniper fire near Perris spreads rapidly, growing nearly 900 acres before 900 containment.
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