ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — The newest member of the St. Lucie County Fire District is on the job, and she's unlike any firefighter you may have seen before. For starters, she has four legs.
Inspector Joe Cox showed off 2-year-old Camy Wednesday.
MORE: St. Lucie County arson dog now on the job
“She is trained to sniff out accelerants used in a fire," said Cox.
Camy is a Goldador, part golden retriever, part labrador.
“She was a service guide dog but she didn’t make the cut," said Cox.
State Farm Insurance has a program where they support the retraining of dogs for a new career, using their natural strengths. In Camy's case, her nose.
“Anytime we’re on scene and there is a possibility that it was arson, it takes forever to receive a dog throughout the state," said Division Chief Debbie Knupp.
The lone dog from the State Fire Marshal’s Office covers an area from Key West to Melbourne, so the Fire District reached out to obtain a grant to bring Camy on board.
Camy is just one of 270 certified K-9 arson dogs in the country. She will also aid in public education, going out to meet and greet kids in the schools.
“She’s going to hold their attention better than just having us talk to them," laughs Knupp.
Camy will get her official badge and be sworn in at the next fire board meeting.