The task of identifying those who have died in the fire is difficult work that would not be possible without specially trained canines.
Jon Izant is Lincoln's handler, and Linda Holden is Max's. They are members of King County Search Dogs, a volunteer organization in Washington state that deploys canine teams to help first responders in search and rescue or recovery missions.
"Human remains or cadaver is difficult because there are many stages that a body goes through as it actually decomposes, and there are different smells associated with each one of those," said Izant. Dogs like Max and Lincoln are being used right now in Lahaina in Hawaii, which has been largely destroyed in the Maui wildfires. These dogs delicately move through charred debris, smelling every last inch to locate any human remains. There are at least 20 cadaver dogs on the ground right now in Maui.
For the dogs, this work is just a game — it has to be for them or else they wouldn't do it. For the handlers, however, it can take a serious mental toll.
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