The Nassau County Fire Marshal has a few secret weapons and they have four legs and wagging tails.

Three Labrador retrievers named Leah, Chuck and Pilot play a critical role in fire investigations across Nassau County. These specially trained K-9s help investigators determine how fires start by detecting trace amounts of ignitable liquids inside burned buildings - evidence that often can’t be seen by the human eye.

The dogs were trained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the federal agency that supports fire investigations nationwide.

In one deadly house fire, Leah located more than 20 separate pieces of evidence. Investigators say her work helped them identify the person responsible. Although Leah retired in September, she continues to train alongside Pilot and Chuck.

“These are food reward dogs,” said Lt. Joseph Battaglia. “So if they do indicate, they will sit down and put their nose directly on where the source is. From there, we can take a sample of that source, send it to the lab, and find out what the chemical is.”

But once the work is done and the food rewards are put away, the K-9s shift out of investigation mode. Off duty, Leah, Chuck, and Pilot return to being what they are at heart, playful Labrador retrievers, ready for their next game.