Fire investigation dog returns to service with Nottinghamshire fire and rescue
Dexter the Fire Investigation Dog returns to the East Midlands with his handler Dave Coss following a short retirement.
Having previously worked for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service before he retired as a firefighter, Dave has returned as a civilian with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The duo work together at incidents to find and locate ignitable liquids, searching fire scenes, suspects houses, clothing and vehicles.
On their responsibilities Dave said: "Our job is to prove the negative: Dexter will be called to confirm whether ignitable liquids are, or are not, present.
"We'll turn up at the job, kit Dexter out in his protective equipment, which ranges from boots to a chemical protection suit, and get an indication of what's happened.
"We will then support anything that comes from the investigation, for example if a suspect has run into an open space we will search that area for further evidence."
Protective equipment not only keeps Dexter safe, but also helps to maintains investigation scenes and protect Dave and his family at home. Substances such as Asbestos aren't an issue for Dexter due to the substance's 15-year incubation period, but any spores remaining on his coat could be exposed to Dave's family if precautions aren't taken.
Dave continues: "Fire Investigation Officers still do the investigation, Dexter is simply another tool in their box. However, a trained dog's findings can change an entire investigation.
"If the Officer needs to rule something out, Dexter will immediately indicate and show something we might not have seen otherwise. His findings help to link everything together."
Dexter was trained from the age 13 months old alongside another fire investigation dog named Freckle.
"He's a fifth generation working dog, so this job suits him to the ground. Now we've started at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service I'm most looking forward to getting Dexter out to scenes and working again, so he can continue to do what he does best.”
Mick Sharman, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, said: "We are really happy to have Dave and Dexter working across the region again. The skills they both bring to a fire investigation can make a huge positive difference, and they are an asset to any team.
"Dave has worked on some of the highest profile fire investigations in the East Midlands, and has shown his dedication to fire safety in numerous ways over the years. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service welcomes them with open arms."
