Last week in Las Vegas the annual National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) conference took place highlighting the latest in Fire Prevention technologies. While the expo floor primarily hosted industrial-level fire suppression systems, a segment of vendors attending the event showcased unique Fire Fighter simulators, which HealthySimulation.com Founder/CEO and former EMT / Fire Fighter Lance Baily covers for us in this article. From augmented reality fire extinguishers to fire engine driving simulators, Incident Command simulators, and in-person emergency medical simulation training services, NFPA showcased some of the latest emergency simulation training technologies.
FAAC Showcases Vehicle, Incident Command, Hose, Situational Awareness Simulators
Showcasing a multitude of different fire fighting simulator technologies, FAAC Simulation Training demonstrated a continuum of tools to educate firefighters. Known for their specialized vehicle driving simulators in a multitude of fields, FAAC provides municipalities, research groups, commercial trucking, and the Department of Defense the opportunity to safely train professionals in the operation of emergency police, fire, airport, and military vehicles.
As a leader in simulation technology, FAAC delivers integrated hardware, software, and expert support to help organizations design effective training programs and research solutions. With a focus on maximizing simulation fidelity across applications, FAAC collaborates with each client to tailor systems that align with specific goals and budgets, ensuring the optimal balance of performance and cost. At the conference FAAC also highlighted other firefighting simulator technologies including:
- inCommand Incident Management Simulator: A flexible, high-fidelity simulation platform that enables realistic, team-based emergency training for incident commanders and first responders in a safe, repeatable, and instructor-controlled environment
- PumpOps Engine Pump Simulator: A standalone simulated fire engine pump controls to correctly train water pressure algorithms for water management.
- FLAIM Fire Control and Hose Training Simulator: A mobile, cost-effective tool that provides firefighters with immersive 360-degree fire scenario training.
- Response Situational Simulator: Instructor-controlled rescue training simulator that immerses learners in emotionally vivid, branching scenarios to build core competencies, decision-making, and situational awareness.
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Fire Extinguisher Simulators
Supporting fire departments with the training of lay persons with effective fire extinguisher use using extended reality were two companies, FireGuard VR from Chaac Technologies and the new FI AR platform from the JHB Group.
Using Virtual Reality training, FireGuard VR immerses learners in a fully virtual environment where they can safely learn how to navigate simulated fire scenarios and apply extinguishing systems. Within this highly interactive and 3D VR environment, users will feel the intensity of a genuine fire, hearing the alarm, sensing the urgency of selecting the right extinguishing agent, and employing it to control the blaze. Within this highly interactive and 3D VR environment, learners will feel the intensity of a genuine fire, hearing the alarm, sensing the urgency of selecting the right extinguishing agent, and using the chosen method to control the blaze. Participants will learn to identify Class A-B-C fire hazards and recognize the appropriate types of fire extinguishers. Training also includes initiating an emergency response, locating and preparing the correct extinguisher, and using proper techniques to attempt fire suppression. As a developer of Virtual Reality training experiences, Chaac Technologies also provides virtual reality training systems for opioid emergencies, construction site safety, hazardous energy safety and confined spaces, as well as custom VR development support.
Using an Augmented Reality Screen to display simulated extinguishing agents in front of a real world environment, FI AR is coined as the “World’s first AR fire extinguisher training tool”. This exciting mixed reality technology allows instructors to educate learners in the exact environment of choice, by bringing an augmented experience tablet on top of a physical extinguisher.
Learners have the opportunity to experience the weight and feel of using an extinguisher while viewing simulated virtual fires in the physical environment, with the company suggesting ems instructors can “set fire anywhere and on anything”! Combined with the JHB Groups mobile emergency training trailers with simulated residential environments provides Fire and Life Safety Educators the opportunity to maximize training outcomes with hybrid simulation experiences.
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Additional FireFighter Simulator Vendors At the NFPA Conference
SoloXR delivers advanced immersive engineering solutions that use digital twins and extended reality (MR, AR, VR) to connect physical and digital systems for real-time visualization, training, and operational optimization, helping organizations enhance efficiency, cut costs, and accelerate innovation. At the conference SoloXR demonstrated their virtual reality training software for training firefighters in chaotic firefighting residential environments.
Symtech attended the NFPA conference to showcase their line of live fire simulation technology systems, ranging from simulated vehicle and burn buildings to fire towers and more. The Symtech line includes:
- Interior Simulators: Interior, computer-controlled fire scenarios
- Outdoor Simulators: Electronically controlled, LPG-fueled fire scenarios
- Hazmat Simulators: Environmentally safe hands-on hazmat training
- Aircraft Simulators: LPG-fueled fixed and mobile ARFF training units
- Mobile Simulators: Turnkey mobile fire training simulators
- Container Simulators: Class A, LPG and Combination facilities
- Class A Containers: Flashover, Fire Behavior, and Containerized Units
- Drill Towers: Affordable, open-frame tactical training units
Finally of note, electric energy manufacturer Tesla was also at the conference showcasing their open-access educational training resources to assist Fire Departments with a better understanding on how to extinguish electrical fires across their range of products. Tesla is committed to helping fire fighters and first responders safely handle emergency situations involving their products.
The 2026 NFPA National Fire Protection Association Conference & Expo will be held in Las Vegas, from June 16th-18th at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. See you there next year!
