During the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, wildfires have intensified across Greece, Madeira, and France, prompting changes in firefighter training methods due to the evolving risks in a warming climate.
Historically, firefighters trained using live fires, which presented environmental, financial, and safety risks. However, the Fire Service College (FSC) in Gloucestershire, a training facility for UK and international fire services, is increasingly incorporating virtual reality (VR) into their training regimen.
VR training at the FSC utilizes gaming-like scenarios that simulate wildfires, allowing trainees to learn and practice in a risk-free environment. Thomas Dexmier, from HTC VIVE, which supplies the headsets, emphasized the benefits of VR in providing a safe space for trainees to make mistakes and build confidence without real-world consequences.
The VR equipment includes a haptic vest that simulates the heat firefighters would experience in actual fire conditions and a haptic hose that mimics the weight and feel of a real firefighting hose. This immersive technology is designed to engage the trainee’s senses, enhancing memory retention by making the body “believe you’re there,” as Dexmier noted.
Participants like Mick Dewer, who recently tried the VR gear, attested to its realism, especially when operating the hose and feeling its weight, which could even induce sweating during the simulation.
The versatility of VR is particularly valuable for practicing responses to rare or difficult-to-replicate scenarios, such as forest, ship, or airplane fires. Ted O’Brien, from FLAIM Systems, the software developer, highlighted the capability of VR to replicate any scale of fire scenario and involve multiple participants from firefighters to commanders.
Currently, fire services from 45 countries utilize FLAIM Systems for training, demonstrating its global reach and effectiveness.
Although VR has reduced the necessity for live fire exercises, it is not intended to replace them entirely. Paul Speight, an instructor at the college, views it as a complementary tool that prepares personnel in a controlled environment before they face actual fires, maintaining that real-life training remains irreplaceable.
The increase in wildfire risk due to climate change, as explained by wildfire scientist Theo Keeping from Reading University, underscores the importance of advanced training methods. The UK’s unusually hot summer in 2022, made more probable by climate change, led to uncontrolled wildfires, highlighting the need for specialized training programs like the ones being developed at the FSC.
This shift in training methods is a direct response to the changing climate and the heightened risks it poses, necessitating a new approach to adequately prepare fire services for the challenges ahead.
