Here’s a message from Larry Shapiro:
While visiting DCFD Rescue 1, a friend showed me a new addition to the station grounds — the National Fire Dog Monument. I took a few photos of the memorial and also found a plaque that honors two brave 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 an article on WashingtonPost.com:
Austin Weishel, a Colorado artist, created the National Fire Dog Monument, which was recently installed at Fifth and F streets NW in Washington, D.C. The sculpture features an arson dog gazing up at his handler, symbolizing the bond between firefighters and their canine partners.
The monument had a cross-country tour before being placed in its permanent location. It was displayed in eight cities over 15 days. The original wooden base showed scratches from curious dogs, a unique mark of the tour's journey.
Austin started his artistic journey at just 16 when he visited a bronze foundry near his grandparents’ home in Arizona. He was given a lump of clay and told to shape it into something. A year later, he returned with a tiny firefighter standing between New York’s twin towers, sparking a lifelong passion for art and firefighting.
The monument, titled “Ashes to Answers,†is located near the National Building Museum and behind D.C.’s Engine Company 2. There are only 81 arson dog teams in the U.S. and Canada, with Washington D.C. being one of the few to have two.
After a fire is extinguished, these K-9 units help detect accelerants using their keen sense of smell. The monument is already in place, but the project isn’t complete yet. Jerry, a local official, mentioned that Phase Two includes adding a bronze fire hydrant with flowing water, giving passing dogs a place to rest.
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