The Newport Beach Fire Department has added a Critical Incident Stress K-9 to its team, a specially trained dog that detects stress in firefighters after difficult calls.

Newport Beach is one of several Orange County departments now using the dogs, known as CISKs, according to an Orange County Register report by Erika I. Ritchie published Aug. 22. Other participating agencies include Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange and the Orange County Fire Authority.

The department's 2024 Annual Report features a yellow Labrador retriever named Tora, photographed in a red service vest, in its community outreach section. The department has not publicly detailed how it uses its support dog.

CISK dogs are trained to detect elevated cortisol levels, a stress indicator, and focus on the most affected crew members during debriefings. Each dog undergoes a year of training before being paired with a handler, then about six months of joint work before going on duty. The dogs are trained by the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, run by Tom Tackett at a ranch in Murrieta. Roughly 70% are rescues.

The program addresses a well-documented problem. According to the Register, researchers found that firefighters experience an average of nine traumatic events per year, compared with three over a lifetime for the average American. The International Association of Firefighters found that 28% of firefighters are at risk for suicide or suicidal thoughts.

Newport Beach's own 2022–2025 strategic plan lists "Health" as a core value, defined as "prioritizing mental, emotional, and physical well being." The plan identifies mental health injuries as a threat to the workforce.

Huntington Beach Fire was the first department in the county to adopt a CISK dog nearly five years ago. Its handler, Fire Engineer Kane Johnson, who has spent 21 years in the service, described how the dogs change debriefing dynamics. Firefighters processing a tough call will look at the dog instead of the wall or ceiling, Johnson told the Register, "because he's a safe place."

The statewide CISK program launched in 2022. Since then, peer support teams have reached out to 150,000 first responders, according to Sacramento Fire Capt. Richard Alamo, who heads the program. Tackett said he is training dogs and handlers from 11 agencies across California and from out of state.