Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Welcomes Scout, a New Search-and-Rescue K9, to the Team

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue has a new member on its team, a three-year-old American Field Labrador named Scout. In a ceremony held yesterday, Firefighter Erick Swartz proudly watched as Scout was officially sworn in as a search-and-rescue K9 for USAR Task Force Two. According to an article from Local10, the badge-pinning event marked the end of a rigorous training period that resulted in Scout obtaining the national Live Find Certification in December.

The ceremony bore significant meaning for the department and the entire community. Fire Chief Stephen Gollan took the occasion to express his admiration for both Scout and Swartz, stating, "Scout helps his human counterparts respond to all kind of emergencies." Gollan revealed the efficiency of a K9 in disaster scenarios, explaining how they "will cut the search time in half by doing things we can't do." This insight was provided in an interview Swartz gave to WSVN.

The inception of this duo's partnership began when Scout was a mere eight weeks old, embarking on the journey to becoming a crucial part of emergency response efforts. Local10 highlights the impressive, dedicated training that has prepared Scout to be dispatched into disaster zones where every second counts. Appropriately, the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue has awarded Scout the rank of lieutenant, humorously putting him above his handler in rank.

Speaking about his and Scout's readiness to engage in their life-saving roles, Swartz told WSVN, "It’s been an incredible journey training alongside Scout and this marks the culmination of years of hard work and trust-building. I’m honored to have him by my side, and we're both ready to serve whenever and wherever we're needed." Scout is expected to serve for at least the next eight years.