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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;"> 201 Orr Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">January 27, 2023</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Jim Pasley
<br />Fire Battalion Chief
<br />Columbia Fire Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7447
<br />James.Pasley@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Demonstration of Columbia Fire Department's new accelerant detection canine scheduled for Feb. 3</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - As part of <a href="https://www.arsondog.statefarm/" target="_blank">State Farm Insurance Company's Arson Dog Program</a>, the Columbia Fire Department has received a new accelerant detection canine, also known as an arson dog, named Tony. <br /><br />Since 1993, State Farm's program has provided funding for the training and acquisition of more than 434 arson dog teams in 46 states, three Canadian Provinces and the District of Columbia. The program was established with the Maine State Police under the guidelines of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. All dogs and handlers are trained and certified according to Maine State Criminal Justice Academy standards.<br /><br />On Friday, Feb. 3, Columbia Fire Department's Fire Battalion Chief Jim Pasley will do a demonstration of Tony's ability to detect accelerants. Members of the public are welcome to attend the demonstration, which will begin at 10
a.m. and will be held at the Columbia Fire Department Administration Building, 201 Orr St. <br /><br />Accelerant detection canine teams consist of a human handler and a canine partner that are trained to work together to locate potential evidence of arson following a fire. The dog will alert the handler to the location of an accelerant (gasoline, oil, fuel) that may have been used to start the fire. The handler then collects the evidence and sends it to a laboratory for confirmation and identification.<br /><br />At the event, Columbia Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Waner, Columbia Fire Chief Clayton Farr Jr. and sales leader Ryan Kenney from State Farm will speak about the Arson Dog Program and the benefit of having Tony as part of the team for the Columbia Fire Department and Columbia residents.</div>
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<div class="content"><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="https://gocolumbiamo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=62b0c3219184457b88d19cf44ce1f4a3&find=701 E. Broadway" target="_blank">701 E. Broadway</a></div>
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<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=2942">Tony</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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