Arabic version: هيئة مكافحة الحرائق الريفية توسع تدريب الواقع الافتراضي والطائرات بدون طيار للمتطوعين

There was no smoke, no heat and no sirens when volunteers at Erica Country Fire Authority stepped into a simulated fireground inside their station to prepare for a looming bushfire season.

According to ABC News, the Country Fire Authority upgraded its virtual reality firefighting equipment earlier this year to replace the older FLAIM system the CFA had used for several years, offering better graphics and more realistic simulations. The Erica crew is among the first Gippsland brigades to use the new system.

The CFA is also trialling drones fitted with thermal imaging cameras to detect hotspots faster on the fireground. CFA deputy chief officer for the south-east, Trevor Owen, said the capability “provides really good situational awareness about what’s happening on the fireground” and that “[and] it’s quick, easy and cost-effective to deploy.” Owen also warned crews to prepare for an earlier and potentially more serious season: “We can expect an earlier onset to the bushfire season. It could be more serious than what we’ve been facing even in recent years.”

Erica District and Fire Brigade captain Russell Wright said the VR training “provides a unique opportunity for our members to have a go, practice and make mistakes safely without the worry of injuring themselves or anyone else around them.” He said having the VR sets in regional brigades meant volunteers did not always need to travel to distant training centres: “It means our firefighters can continue to refine and practice their skills that they’ve learnt out in fire training centres without the necessity of having to drive over an hour away.” Wright added that sessions helped everyone learn, because “everyone can see what’s going on and talk through what they would do differently.” The CFA says the training aims to boost volunteer confidence, morale and teamwork.

The Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared El Niño active and modelling suggests it could become the strongest event in the modern era, which authorities say could bring hotter, drier conditions to Victoria and increase fire risk through to early 2027. Australian Red Cross Victoria director for recovery and resilience Nichola Krey urged people to prepare regardless of seasonal forecasts: “El Niño or not, Australia has been experiencing increased intensity and frequency of disasters for a number of years now… So El Niño is just punctuating this. What we’re saying to all Victorians is be prepared for anything.” What’s next: the CFA will roll out mobile driving simulators in the near future, allowing volunteers to practise driving in challenging conditions and further strengthen skills while keeping crews safer on the fireground.

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