Q&A
FDNY Canine Unit operations and history
0:49:07
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4 min
Chief Fire Marshal Flynn provides a comprehensive overview of the FDNY Canine Unit's history, growth, and current operations. He details the unit's expansion, training, and certifications.
- The Canine Unit was formed in 2017 with one team and has grown to five teams by 2021
- Canines are trained in ignitable liquid detection and some in live find search and rescue
- The unit has received training and certifications from various agencies, including the Penn Vet Working Dog Center
- The unit trains regularly, participates in competitions, and responds to various emergency situations
Joann Ariola
0:49:07
Okay.
0:49:07
And you told me where the units are located?
0:49:10
That's good.
0:49:13
You're ahead of me.
0:49:15
That's good.
0:49:17
Okay.
0:49:17
We're gonna go to the canine unit now.
0:49:20
It's very intriguing because at at one of our hearings, we did have the robotic dog, so it's intriguing.
0:49:26
So how long has the canine unit in the FDNY been operating?
Daniel Flynn
0:49:30
Sure.
0:49:30
So the canine unit was formed in 2017 where we had 1 canine team.
0:49:34
Prior to that, we had no no canons.
0:49:36
BFI added a second canine team in 2018.
0:49:40
These these canines were single purpose with the ignitable liquid detection being the the canines only discipline.
0:49:46
Both of those canines were acquired and trained by a New York State Office of Fire Prevention And Control.
0:49:51
Then in 2020, BFI added 2 additional canine teams for a total of 4.
0:49:56
Then we had a 5th canine team added in early 2021.
0:50:01
In the fall of 2021, We had a dedicated supervisor just for the canine team assigned to supervise and manage the canine unit.
0:50:09
In 2023, in May, one of our fire marshals in the unit graduated from an 8 week canine trainer course in scent detection.
0:50:18
Following this, that fire marshal right away from a separate 5 week training course with cert which certified him as a trainer in the field of urban search and rescue disaster dog training from the foundation to deployment.
0:50:30
These certification courses were given by the Penn Vet Working Dog Center.
0:50:36
The canines added in 2020 2021 are dual purpose canines with ignitable liquid detection and live fine search and rescue discipline.
0:50:46
The decision to have dual purpose canines did not permit any additional canines to be acquired from the office of fire prevention and control because they will only train certified single purpose canines in ignitable detection only.
0:51:00
As a result, the 3 newest and youngest canines were acquired from Penvet working dog center.
0:51:05
The certifications for these disciplines come from 2 separate certifying agencies.
0:51:11
Ignitable liquid detection certification is through the United States police canine association.
0:51:16
All active canine teams are currently certified in scent detection by the USPCA, live find search and rescue certification is through the urban search and rescue system.
0:51:28
Again, all active dual purpose canines are currently certified by so SUSAN.
0:51:34
That's the state urban surge and rescue.
0:51:37
The unit trains for competency in both disciplines, scent detection, and live find.
0:51:41
Search and rescue by spending 1 day a week, typical typically Wednesdays as a training day.
0:51:47
As a certified canine trainer, one of those fire marshals oversees all matters pertaining to training.
0:51:52
Training days vary to accommodate different training venues.
0:51:55
In addition, members will perform daily maintenance training on or off duty, so the adults need to be trained every single day.
0:52:02
This training regimen clearly meets any training recommendations as most agencies such as the USPCA and SUSAR site, 16 training hours per month, as the recommended amount of training.
0:52:13
The unit also conducts training with other agencies such as NYPD, New York City Corrections, TSA, inside of New York City, and often holds canine related training at the FDNY Fire Academy.
0:52:25
Since 2021, the unit has also performed in numerous certifications, trials and competitions, which resulted in numerous first place finishes in ignitable liquid detection standings.
0:52:37
Standings.
0:52:38
The unit currently works 7 days a week from 8 to 6 with at least 1, but most likely 2 canines on duty depending on leaves.
0:52:48
In addition to responding to the fire investigator request for ignitable liquid detection, Unit also responds to major technical rescue matrix runs.
0:52:56
That's in conjunction with SOC.
0:52:58
Those are any serious emergencies that include building collapses, explosions, and aircraft incidents.
0:53:04
When the unit is on duty, all major technical rescue responses are dispatched to the unit, immediately via the MDT, department radio, incident command app, or via department cell phone.
0:53:15
Any off duty requests, consent detection for ignitable liquid detection, as well as request for live finds, search and rescue at confirmed collapse, rescue incidents result in an off duty member to respond.
