He wants to be just like "Dad"

My son's Boxer, Lazarus, has appeared in some of my previous posts.  This dog continues to amaze all who know both dog and owner.  
Lazarus has not had a happy life prior to moving in with Sean just over 2 years ago.  His first owners must have loved him for he was trained when he arrived at the shelter and knew all the basic obedience commands.  He left the shelter multiple times, seemingly adopted, then was returned for various reasons of misbehavior.  The shelter staff liked him a lot.  He was walked daily by an elderly volunteer who was fond of him but not able to adopt him. 
Sean brought Laz home just for the holiday two years ago and other than for a visit, Laz has not returned to the shelter.
Sean has been astounded at the things Laz will do, things he has apparently learned just from watching and listening to the one person who loves him.  Laz is no saint-dog.  He has misbehaved on
occasion.  He does appear to be ashamed when caught in the act.  He certainly does understand what he did wrong and if dogs can be sorry, he sure acts as though he is.
But he does some absolutely amazingly bright things too.  The latest
happening only last weekend.  
Full moon, clear warm nights.  Sean had been doing the Spring clean up of his yard.  Besides the leaves and pine needles, he had
some scrap lumber pieces, so he made a large pile near the pond.
He also made another smaller pile of mainly leaves across the yard.
Perfect night for a bonfire!  Several neighbor guys came over.  Sean lit the larger pile.  The guys gathered around with their bottles of beer, enjoying the Spring night, the crackle of the fire, the sparks flying up into the sky over the pond, the sound of peepers.
Laz lay nearby.  After the pile had burned down to mainly the log ends and scrap wood  glowing, Laz rose and went to the edge of the
fire.  Carefully he selected one piece of burning wood, holding the  unlit end in his powerful jaws.  He carried the selected piece of wood ,which was actively burning at one end, to the small pile of leaves some considerable distance from the burning pile.  There he carefully set the stick in the center of the dry leaves.  After nosing it to just where he wanted it, Laz stood back watching as the flame  caught the leaves and the pile blazed.
Laz lay down near it, satisfied.
You would think this was a story made up by four guys with beer.
There were four guys, and yes, they enjoyed a beer or two; however, they all swear to the truth of this story.  They witnessed this dog  imitating his "Dad" and to all appearance, trying to help and be one of the boys.
Lazarus is a handsome Boxer, with natural ears and uncropped tail.
His face and body are pure Boxer.  His brain is uncanny.