RICHMOND, VA — Fire Investigator Brian Acors and Arson K-9 Erny are a certified team for another year. They successfully completed several training drills – including scent discrimination, daisy wheel, and gasoline drops on carpet – during a virtual recertification on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Courtesy of State Farm, you can download a b-roll package of their assessment here – https://vimeo.com/547993853.

Investigator Acors and K-9 Erny are trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program and went through the training class in August 2020. K-9 Erny is the fourth accelerant detection canine trained through the program for the City of Richmond. Each team must complete an annual recertification in order to remain active in the program. The teams are certified under the standards of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy through the Maine State Police. It is an internationally recognized standard.

“Since 1993, State Farm has been providing the funding for the acquisition and training of accelerant detection canines – more commonly known as arson dogs,” said Heather Paul, State Farm Arson Dog Program Coordinator. “These dogs are trained to work with a handler and alert where an accelerant like gasoline or fuel has been used to potentially start a fire. The benefit, of course, is that these dogs are able to pinpoint where there’s evidence that may be missed by a fire investigator and it is important when it comes to prosecuting arson crime.”

As of April 2021, State Farm has been able to place more than 425 teams across the United States and Canada. Currently, there are over 100 certified teams that have been trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.