Columbia Fire Department introduces new arson dog

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department introduced its new arson dog to the community Friday morning.

The arson dog -- named Tony -- is used to help fire investigators at the scene of a fire. Dogs use their enhanced sense of smell to find things that could be used to start a fire, specifically things investigators might have missed.

CFD Battalion Chief Jim Pasley said the dogs sense of smell helps them find the possible source of a fire.

"These dogs can find such a ballpoint pen and a little bit of fuel and go stick it in the corner, they'll find whereas we would not find that,” Pasley said. “So that's kind of the intent is they can find evidence that we may have either missed or passed."

Tony is part of a program through state farm insurance. He went through 200 hours of training before coming to Columbia.

The dog went through roughly a 200 hour training course