The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) has announced the addition of a new member to their Fire Investigations Branch, an Accelerant Detection K-9 named ‘Scooby’. Scooby’s primary role will be to detect accelerants used to ignite or spread fires.
“Scooby is certainly the cutest new recruit to the WFPS, but he’s also highly trained and ready to serve,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “His expertise in detecting accelerants will be invaluable in our fire investigations, reinforcing our commitment to protecting neighbourhoods and pursuing arsonists.”
Accelerant Detection K-9s like Scooby can process a fire scene faster and more accurately than a Fire Investigator with a gas detector. This efficiency saves resources and time, and reduces Fire Investigator fatigue, especially when multiple fires occur simultaneously. Scooby is expected to assist in investigating several hundred fires annually throughout his career in Winnipeg.
Christian Schmidt, Chief of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, expressed his excitement about Scooby’s addition to the team. “Scooby will provide a significant advantage to our Fire Investigations Branch, providing advanced detection, allowing investigators to collect compelling evidence to assist Winnipeg Police Service and crown prosecutors with arrests and successful convictions.”
Scooby graduated from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Canine Division Accelerant Detection program in Front Royal, Virginia, on April 26, 2024. His assignment with the WFPS came through collaboration with ATF Attaché to Canada at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa.
Scott Wilkinson, Deputy Chief, Fire-Rescue Operations and Training, expressed gratitude for the partnership with the ATF. “We are extremely grateful and proud to have the first-ATF trained Accelerant Detection K-9 in Canada,” said Wilkinson.
Chris Taylor, ATF Attaché, congratulated Scooby and his handler on their graduation from the 149th Accelerant Detection Class. “This is the first partnership of its kind between Canada and the United States. The ATF canines, working closely with their handlers and fire investigation agencies, are force multipliers in detecting accelerants when investigating fire and arson cases.”
The ATF program, which began training Accelerant Detection K-9s in 1984, currently has 71 ATF-trained Accelerant Detection Dogs and handler pairs. The program is available to local and state law enforcement or fire service agencies who meet various criteria and are willing to commit to a five-year memorandum of agreement.
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