Blaze, Plainfield Fire Dog, Laid To Rest

PLAINFIELD, IL — K9 Blaze, the Plainfield Fire Protection District's accelerant detection canine and four-legged partner to Deputy Chief Jon Stratton, was laid to rest Thursday, according to to a post by the Plainfield Riverfront K9 Memorial page. Blaze, a yellow Labrador retriever, served the fire protection district for a remarkable 14 years, from 2004 to 2018.

Blaze will join her fellow K9s in being honored at the newly dedicated Plainfield Police K9 Memorial at Riverfront Park, 24321 W. Lockport St.

"K9 Blaze will be honored with the past Plainfield Police K9 at the Plainfield Police K9 Memorial in our 2nd phase of the project... Stay tuned," a post on the memorial page said.

The Plainfield Police Department also paid tribute to Blaze.

"Yesterday, Blaze, the partner of Plainfield Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Jon Stratton was laid to rest," the department said on Facebook, asking residents to keep Stratton and his family in their thoughts. "She served faithfully by his side as an Accelerant Detection Canine for many years, assisting the Village and the region in numerous fire investigations, and always lit up the room whenever she showed up somewhere."

Photo via Plainfield Police Department