The Commission on Fire Accreditation International is accepting prequalifying forms for fire departments interested in receiving a new virtual-reality training program for fire inspectors.

Wilson (N.C.) Fire/Rescue Services and CFAI, with federal funding from a FIRE Grant and a national steering committee, is developing a comprehensive fire inspector-training program based on professional standards and virtual-reality simulation technology. They plan to distribute the program to free of charge to 2,500 fire departments in August.

Wilson Fire Chief Don Oliver said the basic virtual training curriculum is complete and beta sites have confirmed that “the virtual reality environment is functioning as intended.”

The program will enable novice fire inspectors to practice realistic mock inspections of vulnerable occupancies without leaving their station or adversely affecting the public.

The program is a self-paced, computer desktop operation of practice and testing scenarios based on ICC data and an inspection curriculum that includes construction mistakes, maintenance code problems, hidden chemical or material risks, and electrical and other legitimate and pervasive violations.

“This type of training allows firefighters to learn and make mistakes in a virtual environment,” said Oliver. “They can learn what to do and what not to do without the consequences of an actual fire. Using this technology they'll be better prepared when they face the real thing.”

CFAI is using its Web site, www.cfainet.org, to identify fire agencies that are properly equipped and interested in adopting the technology. The site includes a form that identifies the factors used in pre-qualifying agencies that may benefit from this program.

Each department receiving the program must agree to designate a proctor to coordinate student registration and testing and must also meet the technological requirements.