Buckeye's New Mobile Driving Simulator Will Safely Train Firefighters While Saving Fuel

The Town of Buckeye Fire Department’s newest piece of equipment can be driven in heavy rains, snowstorms, hurricane winds, the thickest of fog.  And it never moves an inch.

Thanks to a federal grant of $374,000, the town purchased a mobile fire driving simulation system that will provide an advance drivers training program to enhance existing drivers’ competencies, as well as a more comprehensive training program for a young, inexperienced pool of drivers.

Travis Rand, battalion chief in charge of training, said the sophisticated simulator is designed to elicit decision-making and behavior reflective of the wide range of situations facing emergency responders every day.

Three screens create a 180-degree field of vision so the first responder can look down alleyways to the right or left.  Rear-view mirrors show objects receding from view as they are passed.

“The software can simulate rain, snow, fog and other situations too dangerous to create using a real truck,” Rand said.  “The first responder sits in a cab mounted on a motion platform, bouncing when the wheels hit a pothole and sliding when the truck takes a curve too fast.

“The simulator can replay the moments prior to a collision to determine where the driver went wrong.  It builds muscle memory, teaching first responders the proper way to avoid problems.  And it repeats the lesson until the correct response is automatic.”

The simulator is on a trailer that can be driven to each of the fire stations or any other location.  That avoids firefighters to have to travel to a single location for the training.

Rand said once all Buckeye firefighters have been trained in the simulator, it will be open to other town departments such as police and public works for training programs designed specifically for their job requirements.

“In addition, it’s also a goal down the road to provide driver training in the simulator to other fire and EMS providers in the Phoenix metropolitan area,” Rand added.

Fire Chief Bob Costello called the simulator “an amazing tool.

“It’s proactive by providing experienced drivers more intense training, and it will give young firefighters time behind the ‘wheel’ before they ever get behind the real wheel,” Costello said.

“Just as importantly, it’s economical.  Because we won’t be using our trucks for that kind of training, we’ll save on fuel and wear-and-tear on our vehicles.”