Training Firefighters and Investigators in VR - An Immersive Session at Fire Service College

On 18th July 2024, the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire, UK, buzzed with excitement as HTC VIVE hosted an immersive VR session in collaboration with RiVR and FLAIM. Attendees joined to experience cutting-edge VR applications in firefighting and fire investigation training, which are being used by the world-leading Fire Service College alongside traditional physical training practices.  

The one-day session began with a tour around the Fire Service College’s incident ground, where physical fire service training takes place. Attendees saw the wide range of live fire training scenarios across the expansive incident ground, from live fires to burn containers used for fire investigation. They even had the chance to witness a controlled fire in action, getting a first-hand experience of the heat and intensity of such environments.  

Fire Investigation is a difficult training scenario in real-life. This is because every time an object is moved, it disturbs the soot and leaves a mark for the next trainee as a clue. In addition, each controlled burn costs at least £5,000, and produces noxious fumes into the environment, and puts trainees at risk of inhaling carcinogens. Due to the complexity of a controlled burn, it also means there are limited scenarios available for trainees. 

It was then time to experience these in VR, with a showcase of RiVR’s innovative VR-based fire investigation software, RiVR Investigate. Attendees were able to step into the role of a fire investigator to explore a virtual recreation of a real burn scene. Built using photogrammetry, the experience delivers ultra-realistic environments in which every item can be moved and examined. Participants then used their deductive reasoning skills to determine the cause of fires, offering a realistic and engaging glimpse into the critical work of fire investigators.  

Attendees also experienced FLAIM’s VR firefighting training and had an opportunity to practice putting out a fire on a petrol station forecourt. This hands-on activity simulated real-life fire scenarios, demonstrating how immersive technology can help to add a new dimension to firefighter training. Equipped with VIVE headsets, haptic feedback devices which used VIVE Tracker 3.0, and heat-generating vests, participants felt the intensity and pressure of combating live fires, just as professional firefighters do.  

Both of these training programmes demonstrate how immersive technology is being used to enhance training through repeatable scenarios, while reducing the risks to trainees and lowering the negative environmental impacts of controlled burns. What’s more, VR-based training means that learners can experience scenarios which are difficult to simulate in the real-world, due to costs, complexity, and danger. Trainees can rehearse in VR countless times, with real-time feedback from instructors, and then face real-world training fires with more confidence in their skills.   

Paul Speight, Incident Command Instructor at the Fire Service College led the event, providing valuable insights into the integration of immersive technologies in fire service training. Speaking to the BBC, Paul said, "I believe in a blended approach - we bring the virtual world and the real world together, so we get the best of both worlds."  

Alex Harvey, Co-Founder and Creative Director of RiVR, also spoke to the BBC, highlighting the health benefits of VR training. "They are going through the virtual environments, so they're now not breathing in that carcinogenic smoke and poisonous toxins into their lungs," he said. "You can do a lot of training inside virtual reality, but you're still going to have to do that real thing as well. We're just cutting down the amount of repetitions done in real smoke." 

By blending realism with innovative technology, VR and XR are shaping the future of fire investigation and firefighting, making training safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. 

The Fire Service College’s adoption of immersive experiences is another strong example of how technology is helping to make humanity better, with a demonstrable positive impact for everyone involved.