Erie County Sheriff's Department has a new k9 to assist investigators in criminal fire cases.
Axe, a two-year old mixed lab reports to duty with his badge everyday.
Axe is one of less than 20 dogs in New York who are trained to locate accelerants purposely used to start fires.
Veteran Erie County Detective, Scott Kuhlmey is Axe's partner. They recently completed an eight week course at the New York Fire Training Academy. Axe was rescued from a shelter in the Albany area.
He can now go to the scene of a fire, determine if an accelerant was used, and locate where on the property it was used.
Axe is a tool who will be available to all fire departments in Erie County and across the state, if there are suspected arson fires.
