Work-in-Progress—Blower VR: A Virtual Reality Experience To Support the Training of Forest Firefighters

Abstract

First responders require adequate training to operate safely in dangerous situations. However, low-fidelity exercises used in courses are an approximation of real scenarios. This is particularly true for firefighters since practice sessions often do not include real fire. A way to overcome these limitations consists in using Virtual Reality (VR) to create experiences where trainees can face detailed simulations of actual risks. The system presented in this work-in-progress paper aims to support practice training on the use of the blower as a firefighting tool and offers two training modes to assist trainees in learning the procedure and assessing their knowledge.