A U.S. Fire Administration grant will be used to fund a continuation and expansion of a computer simulation training program for fire inspectors.

The $801,579 grant was awarded to the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and the Ionia (Mich.) Department of Public Safety to continue the work that the CFAI has done with Wilson (N.C.) Fire/Rescue.

CFAI is a not-for-profit corporation based in Fairfax, Va., with a mission to promote excellence within the fire service through continuous quality improvement, primarily through agency accreditation and chief fire officer designation programs.

The virtual-reality training program strives to improve the ability to raise fire safety in all commercial occupancies. This will help save children, the elderly and firefighters nationwide by elevating the role, support, value and effectiveness of fire inspections and building code enforcement programs, according to CFAI.

Reality Response, a division of Advanced Interactive Systems Inc., will develop the virtual-reality software component of the project. Reality Response has been developing computer-based visual simulations for 10 years for the Department of Defense.

The interactive software program will allow an individual to conduct actual inspections of critical occupancy scenarios totally within a computer environment before being asked to conduct on-site inspections. The software runs on standard computers and can run with or without an Internet connection.

“By staying on the cutting edge of technology, I believe we can better weather the challenges of today while positioning ourselves as the leaders for tomorrow,” said Ionia City Manager Tom Wieczorek. “Saying one cannot afford the luxury of fire prevention training will no longer be an excuse.”

Upon completion of this project, 2,500 copies of the software will be distributed free of charge to a cross-section of large and small career, combination and volunteer departments.

For more information, visit www.cfainet.org or e-mail Debbie Sobotka at debbie@cfainet.org.