VINELAND — The Vineland Fire Department has welcomed a new four-legged member to its Fire Investigation Bureau.
K9 “Radiant” and her handler, Investigator Phillip McMahon, recently graduated from the Atlantic County K9 Academy’s “K9 Patrol Scent Class 13” after 16 weeks of rigorous training. Guidance on setting up the program was provided by Capt. Rodman Meyer with the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety K9 Unit.
“Radiant is a 2-year old yellow Labrador Retriever,” McMahon said. “I acquired her in September of 2023 after she was donated to the Joe Nick K9 Training Academy by a Vineland family. Her personality is friendly, energetic, and affectionate, but she displays a real commitment to work when called upon.
“As an accelerant detection dog, Radiant has been trained to alert to the presence of various flammable liquids commonly used by arsonists to feed their fires, including substances such as gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid,” McMahon continued. “She really gives me an upper hand in the investigative process. Her ability to identify odors that aren’t able to be detected by both human sight and smell, and to pinpoint the location for evidence collection is remarkable.”
According to the Phoenix Veterinary Center, a dog’s nose has up to 300 million olfactory receptors, compared to about six million in a normal human. Additionally, the part of a dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than humans’, and dogs are naturally attracted to new and interesting odors. Labrador Retrievers are uniquely qualified for the role of an arson dog and are the most sought-after breed or this purpose.
“Having an arson K9 means we no longer have to rely on outside agencies for this capability, which allows for a quicker response time by our fire investigators,” said Fire and EMS Director Richard G. Franchetta, EJD, RMC. “The department did have a K9 arson program many years ago, but unfortunately it was discontinued. I want to recognize Chief Luigi Tramontana, Deputy Chief Mark A. Cifaloglio, Fire Investigator McMahon, and Vineland Police Department K9 Handler Dwight Adams who worked in collaboration to bring this important program back. I also want to thank Mayor (Anthony) Fanucci and the members of city council for the unwavering support they have shown the department.”
Tramontana said he’s ecstatic to welcome the new member of the team.
“Radiant’s nose is so highly developed that she can quickly locate even the smallest traces of flammable liquids, which can help investigators determine the cause of a fire,” Tramontana said. “Her handler, Investigator Phillip McMahon, has undergone extensive training in preparing to work with her, and is excited to have Radiant as a partner. I am very proud to have her on board and look forward to the many ways she will be able to contribute to the safety and well-being of our community. Thank you to everyone involved in this project, from the mayor and the city administration to those that trained her led by Joe Nick.”
“In Vineland, we put a real focus on public safety,” added Fanucci. “Our police, fire, and EMS personnel do a fantastic job of protecting and serving our community, and programs like this add another important capability to our investigators by making it easier to identify suspicious fires. On behalf of the members of city council, our residents, and businesses, we thank all of our public safety professionals for your continued efforts in keeping our community safe. We truly appreciate your service.”
According to city officials, in addition to working cases in Vineland and Cumberland County, McMahon and Radiant will be placed on a NJDFS backup list to conduct olfactory scene examinations throughout the state of New Jersey. When not working, Radiant will also participate in community outreach and educational events to show off her abilities throughout the year.
K9 “Radiant” and her handler, Investigator Phillip McMahon.
