COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI) recently took delivery on a new specialized mobile fire training simulator system. The simulator is designed to provide training in fire scenarios involving vehicles, dumpsters/trash receptacles, liquid spills and gas cylinder fires. The system is incorporated with a trailer to make the training as accessible as possible, as the institute offers 80 percent of its training in the field to meet career and volunteer fire service schedules and needs. The simulator was acquired through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, along with a local funding match from MU Extension.

Based on fire department reporting, car fires, dumpster fires and other special hazard exterior fires are increasingly prevalent in fire department responses. Safe, realistic skills training in these areas is essential to protect firefighters and the community when responding to these unique and potentially hazardous emergency situations. In addition to meeting identified emerging fire training needs, this program will increase the institute’s ability to serve more firefighters in the state at the local level through mobile training programs.

The simulator system was manufactured by Bullex Digital Safety to provide hands-on training in conjunction with the institute’s specialized training courses for firefighters. The mobile unit provides students the opportunity to apply skills acquired in a classroom in realistic hands-on training scenarios using four different fire training props. Ultimately, the new training program initiated by this mobile simulator system will enable safer, more competent firefighters, thus ensuring safer citizens and safer communities.

By implementing a training program to address emerging fire training needs, MU FRTI is holding true to its mission to deliver quality fire and emergency response training programs to meet the occupational needs of the state’s emergency responders.

The first vehicle firefighting class using the new training simulator was held in Wheatland, Mo., on Oct. 8. The class was hosted locally by Hickory County Fire and Rescue. Twenty-two students completed the training course. Subsidy funding to support the delivery of the class was provided by State Farm Insurance through a Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant with MU FRTI.

MU FRTI is a unit of MU Extension and is charged with providing comprehensive continuing professional education to Missouri’s fire service and emergency response personnel. The institute provides training to approximately 13,000 fire and emergency service first responders each year.

For more information, visit www.mufrti.org.