Virtual reality simulator helps firefighters train in real-life scenarios without physical taxation

St. Thomas, Ont. firefighters are training using virtual reality, leading to a less taxing training method. CTV London's Brent Lale reports.

The creators of XPERTVR Fire are hoping to change the way firefighters train.

“We’re traveling across the province going to different fire stations so we can actually bring our technology into the classrooms and help them train on a variety of scenarios,” said Drew MacNeil, a co-founder of XPERTVR.

This week they were at fire stations in Southwestern Ontario.

“They can practice anything from radio communications, suppression techniques, 360 (degree) size ups and a variety of other tools,” added MacNeil.

Firefighters break up into teams and put on the virtual reality (VR) headsets. They are then taken to a real-life scenario.

“We never know what we’re going to step off the truck to, so this helps us go forward,” said Chad Yeo, a St. Thomas fire fighter who was team leader for his scenario.

“I think our biggest thing is communicating. We worked on that and moving forward, trying different, scenarios would help too, for sure.”

In a session attended by CTV News, the firefighters were dealing with a fire on the main floor with multiple victims inside the home.

They needed to put out the fire while navigating the smoke-filled home to find the victims.

“I’ve never done VR before, so this is new to me and I think a lot of us as well,” said Yeo.

“It was new but super fun though.”

Funded in part by the province, the Niagara Falls-based company has been developing and working on this technology for the past six years.

Before their year funding expires, they’ve been going across Ontario from Dryden all the way south to St. Thomas.

“We don’t have the luxury of having a large staff where we can take trucks out of service, nor do we have the luxury of having a concrete physical training centre,” said Brad Stewart, chief training officer at St. Thomas Fire Department.

Stewart said being in Southwestern Ontario presents a lot of challenges for training with hot and really cold days.

“This provides that ability to train at a moment’s notice in a safe environment while also not taxing our firefighters or causing our gear to get extra wear and tear,” he said.

“As the week has progressed, there has been a sharp incline in their abilities, the communications, their teamwork and camaraderie.”

With a small department of just 60 personnel, it also allows training without taxing their staff.

“We do need to be ready for fires and if we’re in a training scenario out in a physical training centre and putting our personnel through those taxing events, and then we get a call and have to attend a fire event, it’s that much more taxing on our staff.”

The thrill for MacNeil and his co-founder Evan Sitler-Bates is seeing the firefighters adjust to using the technology.

“Every time we put someone in a headset for the first time, we see their eyes light up and everyone needs to get comfortable with the technology,” said MacNeil.

“Once they’ve gone through two or three times, we really see that uptick in their ability to adapt to this new technology and use it as a useful tool.”

Stewart said there are some limitations but overall was useful.

“They’re not wearing their bunker gear, so your senses in that regard aren’t like they would be at a physical training centre or event,” said Stewart.

“With that being said, you are occupying some senses and you kind of forget about those other things.”

He thinks the technology will only get better in the future.

“There are talks about buying this training device for our fire department,” added Stewart.