Arson Annie: 3-Year-Old Dog Helps Tulsa Fire Department

The Tulsa Fire Department responds to an average of one arson fire every day and they are making a big push to try to cut down on those fires.

When the department responds to suspected arson fires, there's a chance Annie, a three-year-old lab, will be there to help investigators figure out where the flammable liquids are that caused the fire.

“It's really a neat asset to have here that other people really don't have,” Andrew Little, Tulsa Fire Department, said.

Annie is the only accelerant detection dog in the state. When she sniffs-out a flammable liquid, she alerts her handler, Adrienne Seibel.

They will take samples from that spot that will be sent to the lab.

“It's a pretty unacceptable number and while our arsonist investigators do a great job and they have made tons of arrests this year of arsonists and put people behind bars and we are very proud of their work, but they can't be everywhere,” Little said.

People can help by removing things that could cause fire outside of their homes.

“If you have an unkept yard, tall grass, dead foliage, plants, things of that nature near your home, it's much easier for someone to set fire to that and ultimately could spread to your home,” Little said.

To make sure Annie is ready to respond, she and Seibel practice finding different flammable liquids every day.

"She works for her food so she trains twice a day so she can eat and get exercise,” Seibel said.

When Annie is not working, she gets to be a regular dog and enjoys lots of belly rubs.

Seibel hopes she and Annie will continue to be a team for years to come.

“As long as she is good and healthy and willing to work and wanting to work, then she will stay in service,” Seibel said.