Crown Point Fire Rescue has a new tool to investigate suspected arsons: a two-and-a-half-year-old English Labrador retriever named Sophie. She's an accelerant detection K9 — the only one active in Northwest Indiana, according to a city press release. Sophie was introduced to the public Thursday during an Arson Awareness Week demonstration.
Crown Point Mayor Pete Land said in a statement that the dog adds to the city's public safety efforts, and it's a tool that'll be shared with the Region.
Sophie joined Crown Point Fire Rescue on May 2, following four weeks of training in Maine, as part of the State Farm Arson Dog Program. The K9 was funded through a $25,000 grant from State Farm, along with donations from local businesses.