Meet Tank: Garrett Forensics Welcomes Our New Fire & Arson Detection K9

Meet Tank: Garrett Forensics Welcomes Our New Fire & Arson Detection K9

 

 

When investigating the origin and cause of a fire, every minute matters. Critical evidence can be hidden beneath debris, destroyed by suppression efforts, or overlooked during a visual inspection alone.

That’s where Tank comes in.

 

Garrett Forensics is proud to welcome Tank, a specially trained Accelerant Detection Canine (ADC) and the newest member of our Fire & Arson Investigation Team.

Tank is a black Labrador Retriever whose extraordinary sense of smell allows him to detect trace amounts of ignitable liquids that may remain long after a fire has been extinguished. Working alongside his handler, Captain Matthew Terry, an experienced fire investigator, Tank provides an additional layer of scientific support that helps investigators identify potential areas of interest quickly, accurately, and efficiently.

Together, Tank and Captain Terry enhance Garrett Forensics’ ability to investigate residential fires, commercial losses, vehicle fires, suspicious fires, and other complex fire scenes throughout California and beyond.

 

A Nose Unlike Any Instrument

Dogs possess one of the most remarkable olfactory systems in nature.

While humans have approximately six million scent receptors, a Labrador Retriever can have more than 200 million, allowing trained detection dogs to identify odor concentrations far below what people can smell.

For a fire investigator, this capability is invaluable.

Even after flames have been extinguished and the scene has been soaked with thousands of gallons of water, microscopic traces of ignitable liquids may remain trapped within building materials, carpeting, soil, concrete, wood, or debris.

Tank has been specially trained to recognize the odors of numerous ignitable liquids commonly encountered during fire investigations, including:

Gasoline
Diesel fuel
Kerosene
Mineral spirits
Paint thinners
Charcoal lighter fluid
Various petroleum-based products
Other ignitable liquid residues

His ability to detect these odors helps investigators focus their examination on the areas most likely to contain relevant evidence.

 

How an Accelerant Detection Canine Assists Fire Investigators

One of the greatest challenges following a fire is determining where the fire originated and whether an ignitable liquid may have contributed to its development.

A fire scene often contains thousands of square feet of burned debris.

Searching every inch of a structure visually can be time-consuming and may not reveal microscopic traces of accelerants.

Tank dramatically improves this process.

As Captain Matthew Terry systematically guides him through the scene, Tank searches for odor signatures associated with ignitable liquids.

When he detects one of these odors, he provides a trained alert, indicating an area that deserves closer examination.

The alert itself is not the final conclusion.

Instead, it helps investigators identify locations where fire debris samples may be collected for laboratory analysis.

This focused approach improves efficiency while helping preserve critical evidence.

 

Supporting Scientific Fire Investigations

At Garrett Forensics, every fire investigation follows accepted fire investigation methodologies and engineering principles.

Tank is an investigative tool that complements—not replaces—the expertise of experienced fire investigators.

When Tank alerts to a specific area, investigators evaluate that information alongside:

Fire patterns
Area of origin analysis
Witness statements
Electrical system evaluation
Appliance examinations
Mechanical equipment inspections
Building construction
Fire dynamics
Physical evidence
Laboratory testing

Fire debris identified by Tank can then be submitted to an accredited laboratory for chemical analysis to determine whether ignitable liquid residues are present.

This systematic approach ensures that investigative conclusions are based on multiple sources of evidence rather than a single observation.

 

Why Labrador Retrievers Make Outstanding Detection Dogs

Black Labrador Retrievers have become one of the most respected breeds for accelerant detection work.

They are known for their:

Exceptional sense of smell
High intelligence
Strong work ethic
Calm temperament
Trainability
Ability to work in challenging environments
Excellent handler focus

These qualities allow dogs like Tank to navigate damaged structures, search large fire scenes, and maintain focus despite numerous competing odors.

Their friendly personalities also make them approachable while performing highly technical investigative work.

 

Meet Captain Matthew Terry

Tank works alongside Captain Matthew Terry, an experienced fire investigator whose career has been dedicated to fire service and fire investigations.

As Tank’s handler, Captain Terry directs every search, interprets Tank’s trained alerts, and integrates those findings into the overall fire investigation.

The partnership between handler and canine is built through extensive training, trust, and continuous practice.

Tank’s success depends not only on his remarkable sense of smell but also on Captain Terry’s experience in reading the scene, understanding fire behavior, and recognizing how Tank’s alerts fit within the broader investigation.

Together, they operate as a highly effective investigative team.

 

Applications for Insurance and Legal Investigations

Tank’s capabilities provide valuable support in a wide variety of investigations, including:

Residential structure fires
Commercial building fires
Vehicle fires
Wildland-urban interface fires
Arson investigations
Insurance claims
Origin and cause investigations
Subrogation investigations
Suspicious fire losses
Large-loss property claims

By helping investigators identify potential ignitable liquid locations more efficiently, Tank can assist insurance carriers, attorneys, municipalities, and property owners in obtaining a more complete understanding of how a fire developed.

 

Improving Efficiency at the Fire Scene

Fire scenes are often unstable, hazardous, and time-sensitive.

Investigators must balance evidence preservation with safety considerations and scene access.

Because Tank can rapidly search large areas, investigators are often able to narrow their examination more efficiently than relying solely on visual inspection.

This focused approach may reduce the amount of unnecessary debris sampling while increasing the likelihood of collecting samples from the most significant locations.

The result is a more efficient investigation supported by objective evidence and laboratory confirmation when appropriate.

 

Part of Garrett Forensics’ Commitment to Excellence

The addition of Tank reflects Garrett Forensics’ continued investment in advanced investigative resources and specialized expertise.

Our multidisciplinary team includes experts in:

Fire Origin and Cause Investigations
Accident Reconstruction
Structural Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Biomechanical Engineering
Event Data Recorder (EDR) Downloads and Analysis
Product Liability Investigations
Water Intrusion Investigations
Expert Witness Services

The addition of an Accelerant Detection Canine expands our fire investigation capabilities and provides our clients with another valuable resource when investigating complex fire losses.

 

Welcome to the Garrett Forensics Team, Tank!

Every successful investigation relies on careful observation, scientific methodology, and the ability to recognize evidence that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Tank’s extraordinary scent detection abilities, combined with Captain Matthew Terry’s experience as a fire investigator, bring an additional level of precision to Garrett Forensics’ fire and arson investigations.

Whether assisting with a residential fire, commercial loss, vehicle fire, or suspected arson investigation, Tank plays an important role in helping identify potential ignitable liquid evidence that can guide investigators toward accurate, defensible conclusions.

 

Garrett Forensics proudly welcomes Tank and Captain Matthew Terry to our Fire & Arson Investigation Team.

Together, they strengthen our commitment to providing insurance carriers, attorneys, municipalities, corporations, and private clients with objective, science-based fire investigations supported by experience, technology, and one of the most effective investigative tools available—a highly trained Accelerant Detection K9.