Bexar County fire marshal Labrador specializes in arson investigations, detection of accelerants

4-year-old Labrador named Roe is one of 10 dogs in Texas with ATF certification

KSAT12's RJ Marquez talks to the Bexar County Fire Marshal's office and helps introduce their new arson dog Roe.

SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office recently unveiled a new vehicle to help keep it’s special K-9 Labrador named “Roe” safe during the Texas summer heat.

Roe is a 4-year-old Black Lab specially trained through an ATF program.

Roe’s specialty is the detection of accelerants. He is only one of 10 dogs in Texas with this particular certification, which is renewed every year.

Deputy Fire Marshal Tina Neely and Roe recently received a state-of-the-art K-9 vehicle that serves as their work platform.

It has special gear to assist in the de-contamination of Roe and his handler after scene investigations.

It also contains an air-conditioned area with water that Roe can stay in while Neely canvasses the scene before calling on the K-9 to assist.

Roe demonstrated his skills on KSAT’s GMSA at 9 on Friday morning. Watch the video in the player above to watch Roe in action.


About the Author:

RJ Marquez is co-host of KSAT News Now and reports for Good Morning San Antonio. He's been at KSAT since 2010 and covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms, including his Spurs newsletter. RJ has reported stories for KSAT Explains.