Hero dog joins fire service to help investigators track down arsonists

A hero dog has joined firefighters in tracking down arsonists - complete with her own special heat-resistant boots.

Cocker spaniel Giddy is the latest addition to West Midlands Fire Service's dog investigators.

The 11-month-old is trained to search for signs of accelerants in burnt-out buildings, helping the Fire Investigation and Prevention Section to find the cause of blazes and even track down the people behind them by picking up their trail near fires.

Giddy, who replaces predecessor Kai after he died last month, is equipped with a special canine protective kit and heat-resistant boots to protect her paws from treading on hot ashes.

She spent six weeks training with handler, Watch Commander Alex Daw, and now lives with him full time.

He said: "Giddy will identify evidence at fire scenes. She will help to bring to justice criminals who deliberately start fires.

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"She has an amazing temperament - so relaxed and docile. Although our children have now grown up, we’re all really excited to have her at home.

"She started out as a working dog, so a priority will be teaching her how to be a pet when she’s ‘off duty’.”

Station Commander Matt Ling, who heads up the Fire Investigation and Prevention Section, said: "Kai served our communities amazingly and is very much missed, but Giddy is already showing that she’ll be a valuable member of the team.

"Working alongside our expert human fire investigators, she will help to make sense of what can often be very challenging and complex scenes.”

Regional fire investigation dog handler Dave Coss, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, oversaw Giddy and her handler's training.

He said: "It was a learning curve from start to finish for both Giddy and Alex. They’ve done a lot of work to get to this point.

"Now, a bit like after passing your driving test, they’ll continue to learn whilst they’re out in the field."