SAI KUNG, Hong Kong -- For a three-year-old immigrant dog named Sasha, career success calls for staying calm, alert and analytical after fiery situations. She’s a hotshot, hot-spot sleuth.

A Labrador retriever, Sasha works as a detective. She’s a special investigator with Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department. Special training allows her to sniff for and indicate the presence of hydrocarbons remaining from fire accelerants.

“As a fire-investigation dog, Sasha helps to determine the causes of fires,” said senior station officer Paul Chum, her handler. “Once a fire’s extinguished, we may send Sasha to assist in deciding if arson occurred.”

Sasha’s work success recently earned her an Outstanding Service Award at the Animals Asia Foundation’s Dog Devotion Awards. “At fire scenes, she works tirelessly,” said the AAF’s Marnie Yau.

“She’s good at what she does,” insisted Paul, a veteran of 14 years with the Fire Services Department. When finding hydrocarbons, she indicates by sitting at the spot. Asked to “confirm”, she rises and sits again. After investigating, she gets a reward, perhaps a tennis ball for play.

Like most firefighters, Sasha needs protective gear. She wears special boots to guard her feet from sharp objects like shattered glass amid ashes and debris.

Born and trained in England, Sasha moved to Hong Kong as a young adult. “Her education involved conditioning exercises, perhaps first as a game, then with rewards,” Paul said. “When hydrocarbons were added to the game, she learned to search for them. Actually, it’s simple.”

Sasha and Paul work at the Sai Kung Fire Station in the New Territories. From there, they visit fire scenes as requested.

“Usually, Sasha stays in a vehicle while I look first,” Paul said. “I want to make sure that each scene’s cool enough and safe for her to conduct a search.”

When off-duty, Sasha goes home to live with Paul, his wife and baby daughter. “Sasha and my child play together sometimes,” Paul said. “I can encourage my daughter to like dogs.”

Hong Kong launched its fire-investigation-dog program a year ago. “Since then, I’ve shared my work and home with Sasha,” Paul said. The US, England, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and elsewhere have similar programs.

Sasha and another dog, a male Labrador retriever named Dexter, are pioneers in Hong Kong. Dexter’s based at the Lau Fau Shan Fire Station, also in the New Territories.

“The dog program’s going well,” Paul said. “Each dog has attended about 20 fire scenes. Most of the findings were positive for hydrocarbons.”

Do the dogs make mistakes? “No,” Paul said. “Sasha’s very diligent and aggressive at work, but kind at home. When visiting new places, she always thinks we may be on a case and becomes very alert. For our work, we need a dog like her – curious and nosy.” Such are the traits of good detectives.

“I see her as my friend and working partner,” Paul said. “We work together and live together. She’s a member of my family."


Despite Sasha's celebrated status,
she still heeds Paul Chum, her handler.


When Sasha's work schedule allows,
she's happy to make new friends.


Paul and Sasha: firefighters, partners, pals.

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