Martin Joosen, Managing Director of LION Protects (EMEA), explores the rise of VR and digital simulations in fire safety, addressing key challenges and innovative solutions in the industry
Can you start by giving us an overview of LION Protects EMEA?
LION Protects EMEA is a fully independent subsidiary of LION US, meaning we’re part of the larger LION group.
Our headquarters are in the US, and the EMEA headquarters are located in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
At LION Protects EMEA, we’re passionate about making fire safety training not only more effective but also more engaging.
Our focus has always been on ensuring that people—whether they are firefighters, industrial workers, or anyone in need of safety training—are properly prepared to handle real emergencies.
In recent years, we’ve recognised the need for innovation, particularly in training.
That’s why we’ve adopted technologies like virtual reality (VR) and digital simulations.
These advancements have allowed us to rethink how fire safety training is delivered, making it more accessible, adaptable, and immersive.
What challenges in traditional fire safety training led LION to explore immersive technologies like VR and digital simulations?
Traditional fire safety training, while effective, has its limitations.
One of the main challenges is that it often depends on controlled live-fire scenarios or theoretical classroom settings.
While both have their strengths, live-fire training can be expensive, logistically complex, and not always feasible in certain environments.
Classroom-based training, on the other hand, sometimes lacks the practical, hands-on experience that really helps the information stick.
A major challenge in the field is that firefighters around the world primarily train with carbonaceous fire, which closely resembles real-life conditions.
It’s hot, involves real flames, and produces black smoke.
But as we know, that black smoke is highly toxic and therefore dangerous.
This presents two main issues.
First, it’s harmful to the environment due to the release of CO2 and toxic particles.
Second, firefighters are exposed to those same toxic particles during training, which many countries are working to reduce.
This has led to a demand for alternative training methods, such as VR and digital simulations.
Research in Europe showed that 75% of all training needs can be addressed through digital simulations, with only 25% requiring live fire training, which remains a necessary part of their programs.
This balance is at the core of our NFTT (New Fire Training Technology) concept, which promotes a combination of traditional Wood/Gas and Digital training methods.
While hot fire training will not disappear, NFTT offers a way to reduce its frequency by using safer, more flexible alternatives like virtual reality and digital simulations, ultimately making training more efficient without compromising realism.
How do VR and digital simulations differ from traditional fire safety training methods?
They differ because there’s no real fire, no black smoke, and no toxic particles like CO2.
So, it’s safer, cleaner, and thanks to the latest technology, it comes very close to being realistic.
Virtual reality and digital simulations offer a more dynamic and interactive approach to fire safety training.
Unlike traditional methods, where you might watch a video or read about what to do in an emergency, VR places you right in the middle of the action.
It’s like the difference between reading a map and actually navigating through a city.
In VR, trainees can walk through a virtual environment, assess risks, and make decisions in real time.
With digital simulations, we can recreate almost any type of environment or fire scenario, allowing trainees to experience a wide variety of situations that they might not encounter during traditional training.
How does VR create a more engaging and realistic training environment for learners?
It’s all about the training scenarios, which can be done with both virtual reality and digital simulations.
Especially with digital, we can integrate these products into real-life settings, like buildings, ships, or planes—basically anywhere.
By using digital panels and simulated smoke, we build scenarios that are about 95% realistic.
The only things missing are heat and real flames.
In fact, we’ve had situations where even firefighters were confused, thinking they were entering a real fire, only to realise it was a digital simulation.
That’s how realistic it can be.
Trainees aren’t just passive recipients of information—they’re active participants.
When you put on a VR headset, you’re transported into an environment that looks and feels very close to real life.
For example, you might find yourself inside a burning building, needing to assess the situation, locate the fire, and decide on the best course of action, all while under pressure.
This level of realism makes the training much more impactful.
Learners can see how quickly a fire spreads or how visibility decreases in thick smoke.
VR provides real-time feedback—if someone makes a mistake, they can witness the immediate consequences in the simulation, which is a powerful learning experience.
And the fact that they can do all this in a safe, controlled setting without real-world risks makes it an even more effective training tool.
Are there particular scenarios or types of fire safety training where VR and simulations are especially effective?
They are especially effective when training in existing buildings or environments where live fire isn’t possible.
For example, if you want to conduct fire safety training in a hospital, you can’t use real fire.
Everyone understands that.
But with digital and VR technologies, you can simulate training in that environment.
This is where the connection between digital and VR really comes into play.
VR and digital simulations are particularly effective in high-risk, complex, or large-scale fire scenarios that would be too dangerous or difficult to recreate through traditional methods.
Industrial settings—like oil and gas facilities—or large commercial buildings, and even maritime environments, benefit significantly from this technology.
With systems like LION’s BullsEye™ and R.A.C.E.
Station, trainees can experience realistic fire behaviour in familiar environments, such as office spaces, without the risks or cleanup involved with live fire drills.
How does the use of immersive technologies impact the overall retention and preparedness of trainees?
Fire rescue training is extremely important because, in active duty, firefighters aren’t often confronted with real emergency situations—it varies depending on the country and circumstances.
These new training technologies are highly beneficial because they allow for more frequent training sessions with fewer people.
You need fewer instructors due to the enhanced safety of VR training.
But the most important aspect is the health factor, which has become a global concern.
Black smoke contains toxic particles that can cause cancer, and these technologies help minimise firefighters’ exposure to those harmful substances.
When trainees are placed in realistic, high-pressure scenarios, they are more likely to retain critical information.
This hands-on experience allows them to actively make decisions, which is far more effective than passive learning methods like classroom instruction.
In a VR environment, they can practice firefighting techniques repeatedly, learning from their mistakes without the real-world risks.
This repetition, combined with the realism of the scenarios, improves muscle memory and decision-making skills under pressure.
What logistical advantages do VR and digital simulations offer?
VR and digital simulations are fully mobile and can be used in almost any situation.
The key advantage of VR and digital training is that you can use it anywhere, unlike traditional gas and wood-based fire training, which requires special locations.
Traditional fire safety training can be logistically complex, often requiring specialised facilities, equipment, and even travel to specific locations.
VR eliminates many of these obstacles.
Trainees can access high-quality simulations from any location, making this technology ideal for remote or hard-to-reach areas.
With VR, scenarios can be repeated multiple times without additional costs or safety risks, allowing trainees to practice until they master a skill.
Additionally, systems like LION’s BullsEye™ and R.A.C.E.
Station are highly portable, making them scalable for both small and large training groups.
This flexibility is beneficial for organisations of any size.
How does LION ensure that these offering reflects the latest in fire safety protocols and scenarios?
We work very closely with firefighters around the world, in different communities.
We also have our own instructors within the company who are firefighters and fire instructors to ensure our training scenarios are always up to date.
These instructors focus on new challenges that emerge in the field.
Through partnerships with simulation experts, like our collaboration with VSTEP’s Response Simulator, LION can integrate real-world experiences and new fire safety challenges into our training tools.
For instance, LION’s digital and VR-based systems are built on adaptable platforms, allowing us to easily incorporate new fire scenarios, emerging hazards, and updated safety protocols.
We also collaborate closely with first responders and fire departments, gathering insights on evolving threats and operational strategies.
This helps us ensure our systems reflect the most current firefighting methods and protocols.
How do you see VR and digital simulations evolving within the fire safety training industry?
A good example is the growing focus on electric vehicles—how do you train firefighters to handle fires involving electric vehicles? It’s a hot topic right now, and we rely on the knowledge and insights we get from experienced firefighters to guide us.
The future of VR and digital simulations in fire safety training looks very promising, with advancements in realism, AI integration, and scenario customisation.
As the technology evolves, we can expect even more detailed and immersive simulations that incorporate factors like environmental changes, dynamic fire behaviour, and real-time decision-making analytics.
The integration of AI with VR will likely allow for more personalised training experiences, where the system adapts to a trainee’s performance and challenges them with increasingly complex scenarios.
Additionally, as VR technology becomes more affordable and accessible, its use will likely expand beyond professional firefighters into sectors like healthcare, education, and corporate environments.
This will provide essential fire safety training to a broader audience.
This article featured in IFSJ’s Special Report on Training. To read the full report in the FREE October Digital Edition of IFSJ, click here.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.