By Kenny Macdonald
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Fire Investigation Unit's newest member was introduced Thursday. Brad, a 16-month-old yellow and chocolate mix Labrador Retriever, was specially trained by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to detect 21 different ignitable liquids and assist investigators in determining the cause of fires.
In a demonstration of his skills at the Canine Training Facility on Louisiana Street, Brad traced the scent of three drops of gasoline from 50 feet across a grassy field in a stiff wind.
Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo said Brad will speed up investigations and reduce Arson Squad overtime.
"we have a high incidence of arson in Buffalo," Lombardo said. "Brad's just another tool, but a really good tool, for us to investigate those incidents and determine if it is arson."
Brad, and his handler Lieutenant Sal Colangelo, make up one of only 84 ATF-trained and certified accelerant detection teams in the United States.