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Sedgwick County introduces accelerant-detection dog 'Latitude' to Fire District No. 1
Summary
Sedgwick County Fire District No. 1 unveiled ‘‘Latitude,’’ an ATF-imprinted accelerant-detection Labrador, which will join the district's canine team and can be requested for incidents across the state. The county said Latitude and his handler completed joint certification and daily training routines.
Sedgwick County commissioners were introduced to a new accelerant-detection dog for Fire District No. 1 on Nov. 19, when Deputy Chief Brad Crisp and Captain Maroon Faisal presented the county's newest canine, "Latitude," and described the dog's training and role.
Captain Maroon Faisal said Latitude is a trained accelerant-detection Labrador, was imprinted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and completed a handler training period during which the captain and dog trained together and earned certification. According to Faisal, the team trains daily and uses food rewards and staged exercises to teach the dog to indicate traces of accelerant in controlled searches. Faisal noted a typical demonstration used one drop of a diluted gasoline accelerant among distractor cans to show Latitude's indication and pinpointing behavior.
Deputy Chief Brad Crisp and Faisal told commissioners Latitude is an ATF asset effectively on consignment to Sedgwick County and may be requested by neighboring departments or anywhere in the state when needed. Commissioners were told the county currently operates three canines and that Latitude will replace an ATF canine scheduled to retire in 2026.
"We are certified together as a team," Faisal said, describing the handler-dog training cadence and the unit's operational readiness.
The canine will support fire-investigation work by locating accelerants and assisting investigators in determining whether a fire's origin involved ignitable fluids. County officials said the program also includes public education and mutual-aid availability for nearby departments.
No formal action was required of the commission for the presentation, and the meeting moved on to other agenda items.
