Canine Central
Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System (LC-CFRS) has three K-9 teams, Bali, Aurora and Thor, that are assigned to the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Aurora is a female yellow Labrador retriever born on September 20, 2013. She graduated from the Central Intelligence Agency’s Explosives Detection Canine School in June of 2015. Aurora is imprinted (trained to detect) trace amounts of explosives. She was selected and donated to Loudoun County through Mike Stapleton Associates (MSA) Security. Aurora’s handler is Captain Leif Sundberg and when she is not working, she enjoys playing with her buddy Thor.
Aurora and Thor are trained explosives detection canines. Explosive Detection Canine Teams include a highly trained detection dog and a law enforcement handler. These teams conduct searches for a variety of explosive materials near building exteriors, parking lots, office areas, vehicles, packages, and people. They also provide a strong visible and psychological deterrent against criminal and terrorist threats. The teams are available to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.
On Friday, December 3, 2021, canine Bali graduated with her partner, Captain Bud Herndon, from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ (ATF) Accelerant Detection Canine school. Bali is a female yellow Labrador Retriever that was born on January 19, 2020. Bali was raised by the Guide Dog Foundation, growing up with a puppy raiser in Georgia prior to her selection by the ATF to be trained as an accelerant detection canine.
Bali is a trained accelerant detection canine. Accelerant Detection Canine teams are a law enforcement officer partnered with a highly trained canine used to investigate fire scenes. Canine teams have proven to be the most effective tool that fire investigators can use to locate accelerants. An accelerant detection canine (ADC) is trained to sniff out minute traces of ignitable liquid accelerants that may have been used to start a fire or other evidence used during the criminal act. Bali is trained to detect ignitable liquids down to 10 microliters, which is equivalent to approximately 1/8th of a teardrop. The investigator will collect the samples identified by the canine, and they will be sent to a lab to confirm the presence of an accelerant.
Thor is a male black Labrador retriever born on November 30, 2015. He entered the Puppies Behind Bars program in New York State where he began his training. Thor was selected by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Detection Canine School to attend explosives training. He graduated from the ATF Detection Canine School in August of 2017. Thor is imprinted (trained to detect) small amounts of explosives. Thor’s handler is Captain Chris Barry and when he is not working, Thor likes playing fetch.
Aurora and Thor are trained explosives detection canines. Explosive Detection Canine Teams include a highly trained detection dog and a law enforcement handler. These teams conduct searches for a variety of explosive materials near building exteriors, parking lots, office areas, vehicles, packages, and people. They also provide a strong visible and psychological deterrent against criminal and terrorist threats. The teams are available to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.
Learn About How K-9's are Community Helpers
Join Captain Herndon and Dolley for a reading of National Geographic's Dolley the Fire Dog
Retired and Past Canines of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System
Dolley served as an accelerant detection canine from April 2014 until October 25, 2021. During her service for LC-CFRS, she worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with her handler, Captain Bud Herndon. In just over seven years of service, she worked 126 fire scenes, not including daily training requirements. Her work ranged from open area searches to commercial buildings and everything in between. In those seven years, she and Captain Herndon deployed on two National Response Team callouts and assisted federal, state and local agencies in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. She was featured in a National Geographic children’s book titled Dolley the Fire Dog, which is sold around the world, educating children on fire safety concepts through a “day in the life” perspective.
Jimmy had a distinguished career working from March 2008 to her retirement March 14, 2014. Throughout her time of service, Jimmy worked over 210 active accelerant detection canine activities (not including daily training). She and her handler, Captain William "Bud" Herndon, achieved a 100% success rate as confirmed by a laboratory, for the last three (3) years of her illustrious career. This is a notable accomplishment, and one that earned Jimmy the title of "Ole' Reliable" throughout the region.
Jimmy passed away March 2, 2021. Although no longer with us, she will forever be in our hearts!
Shadow served as an explosives detection canine. During his service for LC-CFRS, he worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with his handler, Brian Kennedy.
Although no longer with us, he will never be forgotten.
Ogden served as an explosives detection canine. During his service for LC-CFRS, he worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with his handler, Jason Shirkey.
Although no longer with us, he will always be loved.
Murphy served as an explosives detection canine. During his service for LC-CFRS, he worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with his handler, Larry Gochenour.
Although no longer with us, he will forever be in our hearts!
Flash served diligently until his retirement. He was LC-CFRS's second scent trailing bloodhound. During his service for LC-CFRS, he worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with his handler, Deputy Fire Marshal Jerome Swain. Flash was used to detect and follow human scent. Many breeds will do this but not quite as well as a bloodhound. The bloodhound is unique as it can discriminate between scents, and differentiate between specific people. Once given an article containing the scent of the person to look for, they can and will follow (trail) that person until there is no more scent or they become exhausted.
Although no longer with us, he will always be loved.
Grace served diligently from 2008 until her retirement on May 13, 2016. She was LC-CFRS's first scent trailing bloodhound. During her service for LC-CFRS, she worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with her handler, Deputy Fire Marshal Jerome Swain. Grace was used to detect and follow human scent. Many breeds will do this but not quite as well as a bloodhound. The bloodhound is unique as it can discriminate between scents, and differentiate between specific people. Once given an article containing the scent of the person to look for, they can and will follow (trail) that person until there is no more scent or they become exhausted.
Although no longer with us, she will forever be in our hearts!
Onyx served as an accelerant detection canine. During her service for LC-CFRS, she worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with her handler, Deputy Fire Marshal Jerome Swain.
Although no longer with us, she will never be forgotten.
Marco was LC-CFRS's first explosives detection canine. During his service for LC-CFRS, he worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with his handler, Pat Brandenburg.
Although no longer with us, he will always be loved.
Nikki was LC-CFRS's first accelerant detection canine. During her service for LC-CFRS, she worked out of the Fire Marshal’s Office with her handler, Pat Brandenburg.
Although no longer with us, she will forever be in our hearts!