Accelerant Detection K9 Sniffs Out Gasoline

Occurred on July 1, 2023 / California, USA

: "I am a Fire Captain and Investigator at a fire department in the Bay Area in California. I have been on the job for the past 27 years. Tank is my Accelerant Detection K9 and he has been my partner for the past year.

Tank trains each and every day. In fact, because Tank is a food reward K9, the only time gets to eat is when he trains. Unfortunately, he never gets a free meal, unless he swipes mine when I’m not looking. This video was shot during one of Tank’s training sessions. It was meant to showcase his ability to find a single drop of 50% evaporated gasoline even when it’s been covered with debris from a recent structure fire. Even with all of the other odors from items that were consumed by the fire, Tank has to focus on the scent of the accelerant.

I placed a single drop of deluded gasoline on our fire scene. Then I covered it with debris and gave the command to Tank for him to 'seek' out the odor. Once Tank located the odor of the accelerant, he gives me a passive alert by sitting. When I tell him to 'show me,' Tank lays down and places his nose in the exact spot where one single drop was placed earlier."