PIKESVILLE — The Office of the State Fire Marshal added a new employee to the ranks Nov. 18, and while every newly minted Deputy State Fire Marshal is required to raise their right hand to be sworn in, K-9 Deacon just wanted belly rubs and love. 

Senior Deputy Jeff Thomas, who is assigned to the Lower Eastern Regional Office, has a new partner, a 13-month-old female, purebred yellow Labrador retriever. She was raised by Paws for a Cause and later transitioned to Von Der King Kennels and Training before being acquired by the ATF for the accelerant detection canine program.

Senior Deputy Thomas and K-9 Deacon graduated from the ATF National Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Va., along with six other handlers from across the country. This certification program is an intensive 12-week school focused on accelerant detection canine methodology, fire chemistry, safety and first aid, health, and wellness, as well as several investigative disciplines.

The practical skills and team exercises were conducted in and around vehicles, structures, humans, equipment, and fire scenes to hone Deacon's scent discrimination skills.

Deacon is now proficient in detecting specific classifications of ignitable liquids and has performed over 5,000 repetitions for odor recognition and detection during training.

K-9 Deacon joins the agency's other accelerant and explosive detection canine teams assigned to the Special Operations Section and respond across Maryland. With six teams, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is honored and privileged to have the largest partnership of ATF-trained canine teams in the country. 

K-9 Deacon succeeds K-9 Billie who recently retired. He was on the job for both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for eight and a half years.

K-9 Billie worked over 400 fire scenes throughout the State of Maryland with the last in Dorchester County where a car was intentionally set on fire and the investigation led to an arrest.

"I am very proud that the ATF has allowed the Office of the State Fire Marshal to be partners in their Accelerant Detection Canine program for nearly 25 years," stated State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci.

"We are dedicated to assisting ATF whenever they call, and this long-standing partnership is proof. I have an even greater sense of pride for Senior Deputy Thomas and all of our handlers and their families who dedicate themselves to working and training with their canine partners seven days a week."