The League City Fire Marshal's Office has a new four-legged investigator on staff: a German Shepherd named Torch, trained to sniff out traces of accelerants at fire scenes across the city.
Torch is one of roughly 16 accelerant detection K9s working in Texas, according to the city's weekly newsletter published the week of Oct. 12. He joined the Fire Marshal's Office over the summer and works alongside his handler, Deputy Cheryl Stringer.
The dog responds to fire scenes to locate ignitable liquid accelerants in suspected arson cases or to help investigators rule out their use, the Fire Marshal's Office said in a July 20 announcement. That capability strengthens the office's ability to determine a fire's origin and cause.
How Torch got here
Torch came to League City through a grant from the K9s.org program. The Fire Marshal's Office was selected to receive an accelerant detection K9, and the grant covered specialized training for both the dog and his handler, the announcement said. A sponsor identified as Ms. Goodwin also helped fund the partnership.
Before arriving in League City, Torch completed an intensive three-week training program with Stringer at Pacesetter K9 in Liberty Hill, Texas. The dog is originally from Poland.
What Torch does on a scene
Torch's trained nose can detect traces of ignitable liquids at fire scenes, providing investigators with information as they work to determine how a fire started. In suspected arson cases, the dog locates where accelerants may be present. In other investigations, he helps rule out accelerant use, narrowing the possible causes for investigators.
The city highlighted Torch and Stringer in a Facebook video on the City of League City Government page, which had drawn about 4,800 views and 167 reactions.
Community outreach role
When Torch is not working fire scenes, the Fire Marshal's Office said he will appear at community outreach events around the city. The office encouraged residents to watch for Torch and Stringer at public events throughout League City.
