When a fire investigator steps into the aftermath of a blaze, they study how heat, smoke and flames have moved through a room to uncover where and how it began. But for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, one investigator works differently.

She follows her nose.

Fizz, a lively Sprocker Spaniel, is Essex’s specialist fire investigation dog. She is trained to detect even the faintest trace of accelerants such as petrol, paraffin and lighter fluid, substances that can reveal whether a fire was started deliberately.

Working with her handler, Fire Investigation Officer Graham Currie, Fizz now plays a key role in uncovering the causes of fires and supporting Essex Police in bringing offenders to justice.

A powerful nose that solves cases

Her arrival, supported by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, added a new level of precision to the way investigators can analyse a fire scene.

She can identify up to 30 different flammable liquids and solids, many of them odourless to humans, and can search for evidence 350 times faster than a person, covering about 1,000 square metres in 25 minutes. Since July 2021, she has attended dozens of incidents in Essex and supported investigations in other counties.

Fizz was trained by Graham himself. She is licensed each year by the police under National Police Chief Council-recognised certification, accreditation that is accepted in courts around the world.

Graham said: “Even when an odourless accelerant has been used, Fizz can find it within seconds. She doesn’t see it as work; she’s just playing her game and looking for her reward. But for us, that enthusiasm turns into evidence, and she has made a real difference to the way we investigate fires.”

Even after years of working together, Graham says he is still in awe of Fizz’s accuracy and drive, a partnership built on trust, patience and a shared determination to uncover the truth behind every fire.

At one incident attended with Station Manager Andre Turner, Fizz indicated on a sample that later tested at just 2.7 parts per million using a photo-ionisation detector. This showed she had detected an extremely small trace of accelerant. Investigators had to cut through three layers of carpet and an underlay before uncovering a distinct pour mark and blistering on the concrete floor.

The fires that put Fizz to the test

One of Fizz and Graham’s call-outs involved a series of deliberate fires that broke out across Southend in the early hours of 22 April 2025

Emergency crews tackled three separate blazes within an hour: a car on Salisbury Avenue, another on West Road and a flat in Bunters Avenue, Shoeburyness.

Each fire was extinguished quickly thanks to the swift work of firefighters, but similarities between the scenes suggested they were linked. A joint investigation between Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Investigation Team began immediately, with Fizz called in to assist.

Fizz’s indications in the lounge and car footwell led to significant evidence, crucial in proving the fires were linked and deliberate.

Another key find was a discarded Coca-Cola bottle discovered some distance from the burnt-out vehicle, tucked beneath another car. When recovered by CSI officers, it was found to smell strongly of petrol, providing another vital clue that helped link the scenes.

That work helped detectives connect all three fires to 28-year-old Jordan Wood, of Westcliff.

Wood was arrested, charged with multiple counts of arson, some reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court. He was sentenced to six years and two months in prison.

Detective Constable Mark Sawyer, who led the police investigation, said: “Wood’s actions on that day were reprehensible and it is very fortunate that someone was not seriously hurt, or even worse. “He caused fear and alarm in the local community and damaged people’s homes, businesses and cars.

“The case was complex and required a detailed investigation, and I would like to thank all those involved, including Fizz and Graham, for their work in helping to bring him to justice.”

A small team with a big impact

Fizz and Graham are part of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Investigation Team, which works closely with Essex Police on serious and complex fires.

Based at the service’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) facility in Lexden, Colchester, the wider team also includes Bailey and Jarvis, both live scent dogs attached to USAR.

Bailey is also part of the UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team, trained to locate people trapped in disasters around the world.

Although Jarvis officially retired in December 2024 after more than a decade of service, he remains licensed for open-area searches for high-risk missing persons. This allows the team to rest Bailey briefly when needed, and Jarvis, still a master at open searches, treats it as little more than a stroll in the park.

Together, these dogs have supported major incidents across Essex and beyond, from large industrial fires to community events showing the public how investigation dogs help solve crimes.

Station Manager Andre Turner, Fire Investigation Manager at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We want people to know that if they start fires deliberately, we have the expertise to work very closely with our police colleagues to help track them down.

“Our fire investigation team is second to none, and Fizz and the wider team play a huge part in that success. Fizz’s speed and accuracy give us evidence that stands up in court, and that means arsonists in Essex are running out of places to hide.”

Instinct, science and a tennis ball

For all her professionalism, Fizz’s motivation is simple: her tennis ball.

When she finds what she is looking for, she gets her reward, a quick game, a pat on the head and words of praise from Graham.

It is that bond of trust that makes her so effective, even in the chaos of a fire-damaged property. Every search they complete together strengthens that partnership, one that blends instinct, science and determination.

Fizz might think she is just playing, but her work has helped confirm causes, support convictions and keep communities safer.