A dog with ties to Champaign County has retired after nearly a decade of helping fire investigators across Ohio.
Finn, an ignitable liquid detection K-9 with the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal, was honored last week during a retirement ceremony in Reynoldsburg.
Finn’s story started right here in western Ohio.
At just six months old, he was surrendered to Champaign County Animal Rescue.
The organization quickly recognized his potential and contacted the Columbus Division of Fire Bomb Squad, believing Finn would make an excellent fire investigation K-9.
Finn began training in November 2016 and was certified for duty with the Division of State Fire Marshal in June 2017.
For the next nine years, Finn worked alongside investigators, primarily in southern Ohio, helping locate accelerants in fire debris and uncover evidence that could help determine how fires started.
Finn was the first K-9 partner for his handler, Nakoa Spradlin, an investigator with the Division’s Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau.
Spradlin says Finn has been a skilled and dependable partner and made the job more enjoyable.
Now, Finn is heading home with the Spradlin family, where he’ll spend retirement with their St. Bernard and Yorkie.
He’s also known for his love of ice cream and his habit of occasionally destroying his favorite squeaky toys.
After nearly a decade of service to Ohio, Finn has more than earned some time to relax.
