Firefighter’s Dog Keeps Nose to Grindstone

Chuck Czuleger has a quaint way of describing his work at the Fullerton Fire Department.

“How many people do you know can take his dog to work with him?” asks the Dana Point resident, a 17-year firefighting veteran in Fullerton.

But Jesse, his 2-year-old black Labrador, is a special dog with a special job.

“He’s specially trained to sniff out the cause of an arson fire,” said Czuleger, 47, who has spent his life with dogs, including four he has trained for the blind.

Brought up in a family that loved dogs, Czuleger learned to feel “natural” around them. “They are great companions,” he said.

But it wasn’t until after his marriage that dogs became a serious venture for Czuleger and his wife, Pat. They began raising hunting dogs and entered them in competition.

They had success in American Kennel Club contests, and decided to expand: The couple started raising and training puppies for the blind, in association with International Guiding Eyes in Sylmar.

“We saw an advertisement in a magazine and decided that was what we wanted to do,” said Czuleger, who had quit his job as a graphic designer to become a firefighter.

“I thought I would like the excitement of being a fireman and be able to help people in distress,” said the graduate of El Camino College and Arts Center School in Los Angeles.

Seven years ago, Czuleger became intrigued with the possibility of a dog trained specially to assist in arson investigations, such as one used by a fire department in Connecticut.

“All the time I was thinking that I could do that here,” he said.

Thanks to the generosity of a number of civic groups, clubs and organizations, the Fullerton Fire Department acquired Jesse, who lives, works and plays 24 hours a day with Czuleger.

The program cost $8,000.

“He is able to detect minute quantities of inflammable liquids that arsonists use,” he said. Jesse’s services are used by fire departments in Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

Jesse has also been used in educational programs.

“He has been more successful than we anticipated, especially when we use him in our programs about fire safety,” Czuleger said. “He is able to hold the children’s attention, which makes it easier for them to absorb what we are trying to tell them.

“We tell the citizens of Fullerton that its Fire Department is on the cutting edge of new technology by having Jesse. He is one of the best investigative tools available.”

Besides, he says, “you’ve got to love him.”

Czuleger plans to take Jesse with him when when he decides to retire.

“He’s bonded to me,” he said.