Cd'A disaster dogs learn water detection

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department's canine team has long been able to search on land.

Now, it can do the same on water.

The K-9 search team, which is part of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue System, has been using the fire department’s Zodiac inflatable boat to train search canines Tamarack and Bear to detect humans underwater.

“We are extremely proud of the work our K-9 handlers and their partners have put into increasing their capabilities to assist in search and rescue efforts on our area waterways," said Deputy Chief Jeff Sells.

The team worked with experts in the field to develop the training program that included Scott Dietrich and Tamarack, a yellow lab, and Bridget Hanna and Bear, a black lab.

The ability to assist in the recovery of victims under water has been a longtime goal of the canine program.

While it might seem difficult for a dog to search lakes or rivers, Sells said scents permeate up through the water and dogs can detect them.

He said they will generally set a wide search pattern when trying to find, for example, a drowning victim. The boat operator, handler and dog work as a unit, taking current into consideration.

The dog's body language and alerts can guide handlers to where the scent is the strongest. It's not a pinpoint operation.

"We're just trying to get close," Sells said.

He said the dogs are already trained to search for live humans or remains in disaster scenes such as mudslides, earthquakes and avalanches.

A K-9 team might also help local and regional law enforcement and fire agencies with searches.

"Anywhere the victim is buried,' Sells said.

Their water training will continue until they show proficiency at detecting remains underwater.