NORTH VERNON, Ind. — At Monday’s North Vernon City Council meeting, Fire Chief Mike Cole demonstrated a virtual reality program that will help firefighters train for hypothetical scenarios first responders might not otherwise be able to practice.
Virtual reality games have become increasingly popular in the last couple of years, most commonly used in homes as interactive video games. The player put on a headset that covers the eyes, allowing them to see into the virtual world, and holds two remotes, one in each hand, in order to control what they do inside the game.
The program comes from Pleiadian Systems, Inc, a U.S.-based company dedicated to increasing the safety and preparedness of first responders via cost-effective training and education. They research, develop, and implement cutting-edge computer hardware and software training systems that maximize training budgets, reduce injury, and save lives.
According to Cole, he discovered the technology when he was in a meeting with the State of Indiana LEPC representative who gave him a flyer. Cole added that this is the same type of program the State Fire Marshal’s Office is looking to purchase for their training division.
“The process for learning the program was very easy,” said Cole. “There are step-by-step instructions and the CEO, Fred Caserta, walked me through the process.”
Cole had a leg up going into the process, as he had had experience with virtual reality in the past.
“One of our firefighters brought his virtual reality headset to the firehouse one day to use the physical fitness app,” said Cole. “I was able to use it and I can say that, oddly enough, it was a very strenuous workout.”
Cole said the North Vernon Fire Department (NVFD) would share the program with other first responders in Jennings County so they could all participate in dual-training, joint-department exercises.
Cole explained that the purchase of the program and five headsets would cost approximately $32,000. As the city is currently receiving budget requests from its various departments, Cole has added the expense to his budget and is hoping it will be approved. If it is, NVFD will be the only fire department of its size in the world to have the program.
