DFRS

POLICES & PROCEDURES
Department Of Fire & Rescue Services
Montgomery County, MD

ACCELERANT DETECTION
CANINE TEAM 


 
 
No. 1107
Sept. 20, 1995

PURPOSE
1.0 To establish a policy and procedure for the activation and use of the Accelerant Detection Canine Team (ADCT) on known incendiary or suspicious fires and for training and public education events.

APPLICABILITY
2.0 All DFRS Personnel in the Fire/Rescue Occupational Series.

DEFINITIONS
3.0 Accelerant Detection Canine Team (ADCT) - Consists of a handler and canine specifically trained to detect the presence and location of hydrocarbon fuels and solvents.
3.1 On Duty Investigation Shift Supervisor - A Lieutenant or Captain from the Investigator's Office, who is on duty.
3.2 Handler - The investigator trained and certified to work the Accelerant Detection Canine for investigative purposes.
3.3 "Call Out" - The activation of the Accelerant Detection Canine Team on their normal day off.

POLICY
4.0 The Accelerant Detection Canine Team (ADCT) will be available for use at all dwelling, structure, and all other fires of known incendiary or suspicious origin when the ADCT is on duty.
4.1 When the ADCT is not on duty, the following guidelines should be used for "call out" requests of the ADCT.

  1. Dwelling and structure fires of suspicious origin, with estimated damage over $10,000.

  2. Any fire that involves a fatality.

  3. Vehicle fires with estimated damage of $10,000, if an accelerant use is suspected, and the fuel cell has not been compromised.

  4. Anytime a suspect is on the scene of an arson or suspicious fire, and is going to be interviewed immediately.

  5. Any request for the ADCT from an on scene Incident Commander if approved by the On Duty Investigations Supervisor.
4.2 The ADCT, if on duty, will be available to respond to vehicle fires provided the fuel cell has not been compromised.
4.3 When the ADCT is not on duty, the vehicle should be towed to a secured impound lot and held until the ADCT is available, if the delay won't hinder the search.
4.4 The team can also be used periodically on fire incidents of accidental causes only when the ADCT is on duty. This will provide a wide range of training sites to maintain a sharp functional team.
4.5 Requests for the ADCT will be made through the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center (ECC).
4.6 Out of County requests for the ADCT must be approved by the Captain of Investigations, the Bureau Chief, or the Director.
4.7 The Bureau Chief will be notified, in a timely fashion, of any out of County responses.

RESPONSIBILITY
5.0 All Unit Officers are responsible for:

  1. requesting the availability of the ADCT when they suspect or know that the fire incident involves incendiary or suspicious origins.

  2. securing and protecting sites where the ADCT will be searching.
5.1 The ECC Supervisor will be responsible for:

  1. contacting the ADCT, if on duty.

  2. contacting the on duty Investigation Shift Supervisor, if the ADCT is not on duty, to determine if "call out" is justified.

  3. contacting the on duty Investigation's Shift Supervisor Bureau Chief or Director to obtain authorization for use, when the ADCT has been requested for Mutual Aid.

  4. obtaining information concerning the incident, from the requesting agency, and forwarding that information to the ADCT.

  5. determining, through the incident commander, if the fire scene is accessible and ready to work.

  6. determining the estimated length of time the ADCT would be used.

5.2 On Duty Investigation Shift Supervisor will be responsible for:

  1. authorizing the "call out" of the ADCT on their normal day off.

  2. notifying the Chief, Bureau of Life Safety Services, of any out of county responses, in a timely manner.

PROCEDURE
6.0 The ADCT, when on duty, should be requested, through ECC, by the unit officer or incident commander when fires are of known incendiary or suspicious origin.
6.1 The unit officer or incident commander will secure and protect the scene for the ADCT.
6.2 The unit officer or incident commander will assist the ADCT in their investigation by supporting them with personnel and equipment.