The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) is proud to officially welcome its newest Fire Investigations K9, Titus.
As CFD's fifth fire investigations dog since 1991, Titus is a two-year-old American Field Labrador trained to detect ignitable liquids used to start or accelerate fires. He can locate a drop as little as 0.2 microliters of an ignitable liquid helping investigators determine cause, enhance public safety and assist in determining potential arson.
"Working canines like Titus serve a unique role in the fire service as they significantly improve the accuracy and speed of fire investigations," said Deputy Chief Pete Steenaerts. "What may take specialized tools hours to detect, Titus can identify within minutes."
"Information gained from fire investigations directly supports public education campaigns and safety messaging, helping Calgarians prevent fires before they start, while assisting arson investigations in partnership with the Calgary Police Service."
Titus joined the CFD in March this year and serves alongside his handler, Canine Investigator Brad Brookes, who has been with the CFD for 18 years.
Titus has been busy in his new assignment, attending 33 fire investigations since March across a broad range of fire incidents including house, automotive, warehouse, storage facilities, outside deck and patios.
Both Titus and Investigator Brookes received their training from the Canine Accelerant Detection Association (CADA) and are re-certified yearly to maintain high standards required for fire investigations.
"This is such an amazing program and an incredible tool for investigations," shared Investigator Brookes. "Titus helps us gather vital information and data to solve fire investigations and the best part is getting to work with an animal every day. I love animals, and it's truly special to represent the department with a partner like Titus."
Training, Trust and Community
Titus was born in Wisconsin and began his training at 8 weeks old, through Reliant Investigations under the CADA Fire Dogs program. He is trained through a food reward system to locate hydrocarbons and ignitable liquids; compounds that leave a residue after a fire has been extinguished. Titus can identify ethanol, acetone, paint thinner, gasoline, diesel, camp fuel, kerosene and more.
As part of their work, Titus and Investigator Brookes attend fire scenes, train daily and engage with the community, as well as assisting surrounding fire departments with investigations.
Titus wears his badge and vest while on duty. To ensure Titus is safe, Investigator Brookes will clear any debris that could potentially harm Titus and ensures that air quality levels are safe. When Titus locates an ignitable liquid, he will indicate it by laying on his stomach and pointing at the area with his nose. Investigator Brookes will then collect an area of 12 inches around and send the sample off to a lab.
After each scene, Titus is given a bath and receives regular veterinary check-ups to monitor his health.
Titus' safety is the top priority in all situations, which means that he will never be forced to work if he shows signs of being uncomfortable. Both Titus and Investigator Brookes have built their relationship on this trust to be able to perform at their best for each other.
"I can't see or smell ignitable liquids, so I have to trust Titus completely," said Investigator Brookes. "He knows what he's doing, I just help guide him there. There's a deep trust between us. He searches, and I interpret the patterns he's showing me, almost like painting a picture of what happened."
Another important part of Titus' work is being with Calgarians. Investigator Brookes and Titus can be seen at school demonstrations, library visits and other public events where they help promote fire safety and education. Because of Titus' calm and gentle demeanor many people will often come up and ask to say hi, which for many is their first positive experience with a working K9.
When off duty, Titus lives with Investigator Brookes and his family where he gets to be regular dog who loves to eat, sleep and play.
Funding Support
Titus is fully funded through a special partnership agreement with Calgary's AGAT Laboratories, at no cost to taxpayers. This agreement covers all food, training, veterinary care and operational needs.
This partnership represents more than financial support it reflects shared commitment to innovation, public safety, and community wellbeing.