Fire service uses technology to help train staff during lockdown

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are using virtual reality technology to help train crews.

To keep in line with the current social distancing guidelines, they're now using virtual reality for fire investigation training.

The fire service says the new virtual reality training utilises experiential learning as this method of training is through first-hand experience, whilst it engages trainees’ emotions and enhances their skills, knowledge and experience that are developed outside of the traditional academic classroom.

Paul Speight, Watch Manager Virtual Reality, said: “This is a very exciting time for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and it is one I am looking forward to.

“Virtual reality has been around for a while now, and as a Service we are always looking for ways in which it can be utilised.

“Due to the current pandemic, we are having to work remotely and are always looking at ways to improve how we do this – virtual reality remote training is one of them, which will help keep officers up-to-date with their training.

To ensure the Service doesn’t put all trainees through the same fire investigation scene, a system called Reality in Virtual Reality Investigate is used. This allows the Service to switch between a set of scenes, which will be refreshed.

Paul Speight, added: “There are a number of benefits associated with virtual reality which include enhanced cognitive learning, quality repeatable and realistic training, increased knowledge retention compared to traditional methods as well as the big one which is that it allows firefighters access to virtual burns and investigations without the risk of being exposed to real fire.

“All these make virtual reality a valuable resource for the Service, and one which we will look to use wherever possible.”