ACCELERANT DETECTION
Arson Dogs is a most commonly used term however these are special detection dogs which the proper terminology of these dogs should be ADC, meaning Accelerant Detection Canines. These are used during a fire investigation within buildings and also vehicles to determine the presence of accelerants which could result after a building or vehicle was burned down during a fire to determine if there was any arson involved and if accelerants are detected, the dogs will help the forensic experts to determine the exact location of the start of the fire.
As stated by many experts the terminology Arson Dogs is not the correct wording to use, being that not every fire proves to be an arson, since it could be an accidental fire. However these dogs will surely aid the fire investigators to carry out their work more easily, and after the dogs pinpoint the exact location, proper laboratory analysis can be carried out to finally confirm the accelerant, and the type used.
Ignitable liquids are often used as accelerants in the case of arson related fires. An accelerant works to speed up the rate at which a fire spreads, and inevitably increases the amount of damage caused by the fire. Accelerants can also cause an explosion to occur, which can not only destroy buildings or vehicles but can also result with loss of lives. When a fire occurs, a thorough inspection for accelerants will be conducted for legal and insurance purposes, and this is where the ADC dogs prove to be a very useful tool.
WDA apart from being able to train such detection canines, also has its own inhouse ADC dogs which are able to assist in any fire investigations needed both locally and internationally if the need arises. Our clients for such work usually are Fire Investigators, Police authorities, Fire Departments, Court Experts and Insurance Companies.
Our Accelerants Detection Canines are a valuable tool to be used at any fire scene to aid fire investigations. Our canines can detect a good number of usually used accelerants such as petrol, diesel, turpentine. Paraffin, acetone, kerosene, Isopropyl alcohol, turpentine, thinners and some others.
WDA is also a member of CADA the Canine Accelerant Detection Association based in the US. CADA was established in 1991 in the US and is the oldest national and international Association dedicated solely to detection canines working in the field of fire investigations.
