Fire investigation dog up for an award at Crufts after helping convict Woolwich arson killers

A dog who helped put criminals behind bars after they set fire to a house in Woolwich has been nominated for a prestigious award.

London Fire Brigade’s fire investigation dog Simba has been working alongside his handler, Station Officer Anton Keach, for three years.

He has been announced as a finalist for The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award category at Crufts 2022.

SO Keach said: “Simba really deserves to win this award and it’s an honour that he’s been recognised and shortlisted against such stiff competition.

“As well as all his work at fire scenes and in the community, he also provides great therapy to all of us in the fire investigation team.

“We can have really tough days in our job and see some awful things – but Simba’s intelligence means he can read people and their emotions and knows when we need some extra support. 

“He also always brings a smile to the face of firefighters who have been working under trying conditions.”

In 2018, the five-year-old English springer spaniel helped secure convictions for Elliott Robinson, then 22, of Mottingham, and William Smith, then 26, of no fixed address.

Sierra Leone national Memunatu Warne, 46, died after Robinson and Smith set fire to the front door of a house in Centurion Square on Berber Parade, Wollwich, in a drug dealers’ row.

Simba, who is trained to identify a number of substances, helped to determine that the fire was started deliberately.

Within seconds of arriving at the crime scene, he indicated that accelerant had been used to make the fire spread more quickly. 

SO Keach said: “Without Simba’s keen sense of smell, it would have taken fire investigators a lot longer to identify the areas where the accelerant was found. 

“Some of the things that Simba found may not have even registered using the equipment available to fire investigators.”

He added: “He’s a hugely important part of the team and everyone at London Fire Brigade is very proud of him.

“All the dogs would be very worthy winners – but if you’re a fan of Simba or you’ve had the chance to meet him in the past, we’d be really grateful for your vote.”

The winner will be announced by TV presenter and actress Sally Philips on the final day of the Crufts competition on Sunday, March 13.

The Kennel Club’s Health and Welfare Executive Bill Lambert, said: “We are delighted to have Simba and Anton as one of our Hero Dog finalists at Crufts 2022.

“The Kennel Club’s Hero Dog Award is an opportunity to celebrate dogs that change our lives in their own unique and special way and we hope our five stories at this year’s show really demonstrate the positive benefits dogs bring to us.”

To vote, go to https://www.crufts.org.uk/whats-on/the-kennel-club-hero-dog-award/