Gilbert Fire adds 4-legged team member

GILBERT, Ariz. — There is a new addition to the Gilbert Fire Department.

Spring, a 2-year-old labrador retriever, has undergone weeks of training at the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Canine Training and Operations Support Branch in Front Royal, Virginia.

Spring specializes in detecting accelerants used to start incendiary fires, according to information provided by the department.

Her expertise is invaluable.

“It’s huge, I mean arson is a very high crime. It’s a Class 2 felony, just under murder,” said David Zehring, Spring’s partner and handler.

Spring and Zehring are the only certified ATF K-9 Accelerant Detection team in the state. The pair is also part of the ATF National Response Team.