Enhancement of fire scene investigations using accelerant detection canines.

In the United States, the use of Accelerant Detection Canines (ADCs) to enhance the investigation of fire scenes is becoming increasingly popular. The usefulness of the ADCs is directly related to their ability to detect minute amounts of an ignitable fluid in complex sample matrices. Although unconfirmed indications may occur, a properly trained ADC can help pinpoint the location of residual ignitable fluids at the fire scene. ADCs help reduce the number of samples collected at the scene thereby reducing the amount for analysis in the laboratory and increasing the quality of the samples and the scene investigation. The collaborative efforts of the laboratory, the fire scene investigator, and the well trained ADC provide substantial benefits to fire and police agencies in the investigation of fire scenes.