This is from Larry Shapiro:
On a recent visit to DCFD Rescue 1, a friend showed me a new addition to the station grounds — the National Fire Dog Monument. It's a touching tribute to the brave canines who assist firefighters in detecting accelerants at fire scenes. Here are some photos of the monument and a plaque that honors two dogs from the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.
*Larry Shapiro photo*
*Larry Shapiro photo*
*Larry Shapiro photo*
*Larry Shapiro photo*
*Larry Shapiro photo*
From the WashingtonPost.com:
The sculpture, created by Colorado artist Austin Weishel, features an arson dog gazing up at his handler. The piece was unveiled on Fifth and F streets NW in Washington, D.C. Before its official debut, the monument toured eight cities across the country over 15 days, displayed on a wooden base. After the tour, it was discovered that the wood had been scratched by curious dogs, leaving behind a unique mark of their presence.
Austin first got into art at the age of 16 when he visited a bronze foundry near his grandparents’ home in Arizona. There, he was given a lump of clay and told that if he shaped it into something, it would be cast in bronze. A year later, he returned with a small firefighter standing between New York’s twin towers — a moment that sparked his lifelong passion for art and led him to join a volunteer fire department.
The monument, titled “Ashes to Answers,†is located near the National Building Museum and just behind D.C.’s Engine Company 2. Only 81 arson dog teams exist in the U.S. and Canada, with Washington, D.C., being one of the few cities with two such teams. These K-9 units play a crucial role after fires are extinguished, using their highly sensitive noses to detect dangerous accelerants.
Although the main sculpture is in place, the memorial isn’t fully complete yet. According to Jerry, the project’s coordinator, Phase Two involves adding a bronze fire hydrant with water flowing into a dish, giving nearby dogs a place to rest and cool off.
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