FRONT ROYAL, Va. – After weeks of training, eight Accelerant Detection K-9s and their handlers graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Canine Academy and are now proficient at detecting accelerants leading to arrests and prosecutions of those individuals responsible for committing acts of arson.
After six weeks of odor recognition training, the K 9 teams graduated on Oct. 16 as Accelerant Detection Class 159, equipped with the ability to identify ignitable liquids and detect trace amounts on clothing or other items that may have come into contact with those substances.
“Fire and arson investigation is complex and difficult work,” said Brice McCracken, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research. “ATF Trained Accelerant Detection Canine teams provide fire investigators with vital clues and evidence which will help to determine if a fire was intentionally set or not. That evidence is crucial for the successful prosecution of arson and ensures justice for the victims.”
In addition, the K-9 handlers also undergo scenario-based and classroom training to prepare for investigating these types of cases. The handlers and their K-9s will serve with local and state law enforcement agencies from all over the country.
ATF’s National Canine Training Center provides a variety of training programs for local, state, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. ATF remains the only DOJ organization responsible for training explosives and accelerant detection K-9s with more than 200 in service across all programs. The National Canine Training Center is a component of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research in Huntsville, Alabama.
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ATF protects American communities from violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. Through crime gun intelligence, forensic analysis, and relentless investigation, we identify and arrest violent offenders and gang members, dismantle trafficking networks, and sever the supply chains arming cartels, prohibited persons, and terrorist organizations. We defend the rights of law-abiding citizens by safeguarding lawful commerce and upholding the Constitution of the United States. Learn more about what ATF is doing to reduce violent crime in your community by following us on X @ATFHQ, Instagram @ATFHQ, LinkedIn @ATF, and Facebook @HQATF, or on the web at www.atf.gov.
