Two fire investigation dogs and their handlers have been honoured with a national award for their significant contributions to solving complex fire investigations across the East Midlands.
Dogs Ginny and Barney, alongside handlers Dave Coss and Tim Marston, work with police and fire services in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. Their efforts have helped determine the origin and cause of fires, leading to 580 years' worth of custodial sentences in arson cases since December 2021.
The team received the Special Team Award at the UK Service Dogs Awards, which recognises the contributions of service dogs and their handlers nationwide. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) stated that their work has been crucial in bringing arsonists to justice.
The dogs are trained to detect ignitable liquids used as accelerants, whether in their natural state or after being burned. NFRS also noted that the team assists in training firefighters and crime scene investigators, supports academic research, and shares specialist knowledge with emergency services across the UK.