Paul Osborne - Sherlock: The Fire Brigade Dog

About the Book

Meet Sherlock, the bravest dog on watch, keeping the streets of London safe, day and night.

When firefighter Paul was offered the chance to work with a young, energetic, Cocker Spaniel as part of the Fire Investigation Dog unit, he knew that D-Day thats D for Dog Day was going to be something special. Enter Sherlock, a furry ball of power-packed chaos.

But this dog is like no other. He is the pride of the Fire Brigade. One of the most talented and extraordinary dogs the fire brigade has ever trained.

Paul instantly knew they would be a force to be reckoned with.

Forming an unbreakable bond, Paul and Sherlock have investigated hundreds of the most dangerous fire scenes, and with Sherlocks nose for identifying causes of fire, have kept London safe.

This the incredible true story of London Fire Brigades top dog on the watch.

Foreword by Dani Cotton, Commissioner for The London Fire Brigade

***

Winners of the Mirror and RSPCA Animal Hero Awards 2017

Written in collaboration with and with full support from the London Fire Brigade

About the Author

Paul Osborne is a fire investigation officer who has been with the Fire Brigade for over 20 years. In 2013, Paul was selected to be a Hydrocarbon Dog Handler, one of just 14 teams across the country. He was paired up with the bright-eyed Cocker Spaniel, Sherlock to help make London a safer city.

Sherlock is a five-year old Cocker Spaniel with a nose for sniffing out ignitable liquids. He is very fond of tennis balls.

To the four most important women who complete my life, Mum, Emma, Olivia and Kate. With you in my life the glass is always half full or twice as big as it needs to be! xx

Foreword by

Dany Cotton,

Commissioner, London Fire Brigade

Everyone knows that owning a furry four-legged friend is good for you its life-enhancing. Dogs make us happier and healthier, and they put smiles on our faces.

When the London Fire Brigade introduced specialist fire investigation dogs in 2000, I was over the moon. I love dogs, but there was more to it than that. Our dogs help the Fire Investigation Team to make sure that the people who deliberately start fires are convicted. Watching our dogs sniffing out a fire is magical. Their keen noses are more accurate than the most sensitive technology that has yet been designed to detect lightable substances.

Sherlock that little bundle of energy is a Cocker Spaniel whose official job title is Specialist Fire Investigation Dog. He joined Londons ranks in 2013 and hes impressive. When you pass him in the street he might look like a normal dog; however, hes anything but. Hes an integral part of Londons firefighting and prevention team, helping us to keep the public safe. His drive is unrelenting and the speed at which he can track down an inflammable liquid has reduced the time it takes us to investigate the scene of a fire. His nose can home in accurately on even the faintest traces of something suspicious up to a year after its gone.

But Sherlock would be lost without his committed handler, Paul Osborne. The pair really are a close-knit professional team, whether on or off the fire ground. Paul has twenty-one years experience in the Fire Brigade. After honing his skills with Kent Fire and Rescue Service he came to London in 2005. Hes been in our Fire Investigation department since 2009, hunting down the causes of fire, investigating fire scenes, and appearing in court to provide testimony in cases of fatal fire and arson.

I am delighted that Paul is sharing with us the wonderful story of his journey with Sherlock. We are so proud to have them as part of the London Fire Brigade team.

Dany Cotton

London Fire Commissioner

Paul, youre going to be great in this new role, theres no doubt about that, but a little word to the wise: you wont know exactly what youre taking on with this job until your dog arrives. Remember that.

At the time it seemed an odd thing to say for my mate and fellow Fire Investigator Mick Boyle. I wasnt exactly sure what he meant but as someone who was an experienced handler on the team and had looked after both Fire Dogs, Roscoe and Murphy, I trusted he had a point to make. We had enjoyed a fair few chats between shifts, lots of joking and mucking around over numerous cups of coffee. I took it as just some well-meaning advice from a well-respected colleague with a keen sense of humour, but this time there didnt seem to be a punchline or perhaps I had missed it? To be honest, I was probably only half concentrating on anything anyone said because at the time my mind was focused on one thing and one thing only.

I was ready for this. This was what I had wanted for a very long time: my own Fire Investigation Dog or, to be accurate, Hydrocarbon Detection Dog. Mick knew that being a handler would be my dream come true. And so Friday 12 July 2013 was D-Day thats D for Dog-Day a day I will never forget. I was about to welcome Sherlock into my life. Sherlock was not just a Fire Dog; this fire-cracker of a Cocker Spaniel was the pride of the London Fire Brigade Investigation Team no less. He was seen by all my peers as the top dog: Sherlock was simply the best and he was about to be mine.

Was I up to it? More importantly, would Sherlock think I was up to it? Because if he didnt then we were all in trouble. It was one of those mirror moments, you know the kind? The ones where you take a good look at yourself and check behind your eyes to see if youre still in there? Mirror, mirror on the wall: who am I? What have I achieved? Where am I going? Get the drift?

Lets start with what should be the easy one

Who am I? I am Paul Osborne and for the past five years I have been a Fire Investigator with the London Fire Brigade, with over twenty years experience as a firefighter. Ive seen some horrific things: sights that have made my own hair curl, and some Ive had to tell myself to forget.

What have I achieved? I have a beautiful wife, Kate, and two gorgeous daughters, Emma and Olivia. All three are my greatest and proudest achievements and the source of my deepest joy. We live in a lovely house in Kent, my home county, that Im gradually renovating with my own two hands. It will be perfect one day. Thats what Ive promised, so it will happen.

I heard the dog van draw up outside my house and a rush of excitement washed over me. It was a bit like that childhood memory of waking up on Christmas morning hoping Father Christmas had delivered that one special present you had been wishing for all year. It must be Sherlock. This was it.

If Mick had been on his own, he would have been knocking at the door by now. Bang there went the drivers door. The creak of the vans back doors opening that followed was a sound I recognised straight away. Then some kind of scuffle and rattle as something was taken out of the back The double doors slammed shut one two. Knock! Knock!

I was in my work wear dark blue trousers and shirt with red LFB insignia and I remember walking from the kitchen through the hall towards the front door, straightening myself up, making sure that I was all tucked in, as if Sherlock was going to conduct an inspection or be disappointed at how I looked. Daft, I know, but first impressions count even if youre meeting a dog right? I opened the door and there was Mick with one feathery-footed crinkly-eared black Cocker Spaniel, one lead and one pink duvet.