This New Fire Investigation Team Takes Over for Retired Team

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces the Erie County Sheriff’s Office is training a new accelerant detection team for the Fire Investigation Unit.

Detective Kuhlmey and his new partner Axe, a one and a half-year-old Lab mix, will train at the New York State Fire Training Academy in Montour Falls for approximately eight weeks.  Upon completion of their training, the team will be deployed to fire scenes throughout Erie County to search for the possible use of accelerants.

Axe, rescued from an animal shelter in the Albany area, was provided at no cost to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office by the New York State Department of Homeland Security Emergency Services Department.

Axe and Detective Kuhlmey are taking over K9 fire investigations following the retirement at the end of 2016 of Detective Meerboth and Blaze.