Beacon The Arson Accelerant Detection Canine Sworn In To Service

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Chief Louis Winston on Friday swore in the department’s newest investigative member, Beacon.

A two-year-old black Labrador retriever, Beacon is the fifth arson accelerant detection canine to serve in Howard County and second to accompany handler Captain Craig Matthews with the Department’s Office of the Fire Marshal.

"Like his four-legged friends before him, Beacon is a vital DFRS team member, helping our investigators more accurately and rapidly determine if a fire was intentionally set thanks to his superior sense of smell. This not only leads to more efficient investigations and better use of departmental resources, but also ensures our investigators are able to successfully stop, catch and prosecute arsonists. I wish Beacon and Captain Matthews the best of luck in the road ahead and look forward to hearing about all the good and effective work they are doing for the residents of Howard County and beyond," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

This past August, Beacon and Matthews completed the canine-accelerant detection program hosted by Maine State Police. Together, Matthews and Beacon will respond to an average of 80 fires a year throughout the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and as far out as western Maryland, as there are only a handful of arson dogs in the region, officials said at his swearing-in ceremony.

Arson dogs assist investigators at fire scenes by locating evidence of any accelerant used, such as gasoline, lighter fluid, or kerosene, which is then collected and tested and confirmed in a lab. Since his graduation, Beacon has already worked on several fire scenes, officials added.

"As one of the few arson dogs in Maryland, Beacon is a tremendous asset – not only to our fire investigation team at DFRS, but to the entire region. Beacon can identify potential signs of a suspicious fire within seconds or minutes – work that might otherwise take investigators hours or even days to complete," said Louis Winston, fire chief for the department of fire and rescue services, during the ceremony.

Beacon’s certification training was funded through a donation to the nonprofit International Fire Dogs by the local emergency restoration company Platinum Emergency Services. He follows in the pawprints of the department’s previous arson dog, Sowell, who retired in August and now lives at home with Matthews, his family and his new friend, Beacon.