Kidde introduces home fire drill tool for Canadians
Kidde has announced the release of a free digital tool designed to help Canadians prepare for household fire emergencies, according to a joint release from Kidde, the Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE), and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
The new tool, part of Kidde’s “Cause For Alarm” campaign, uses augmented reality (AR) to simulate home fire scenarios and guide users through preparation and evacuation drills.
Accessible through any smartphone or tablet browser, “Prepare. Plan. Practice.” is intended to improve awareness and response speed during residential fires.
Kidde cited data indicating that many Canadians overestimate how long they have to escape a house fire.
According to Kidde, nearly 70 percent of Canadians believe they have more than two minutes to evacuate, despite fire experts warning that modern fires can spread much faster.
Fire safety training enters homes through AR
The interactive simulator provides three main training modes.
Demonstration Mode uses AR to show how a fire can spread through the user’s environment in real time.
Learn Mode lets users explore a digital home and receive advice on fire hazards, carbon monoxide safety, and smoke alarm usage.
Practice Mode allows users to develop a custom escape plan and simulate an emergency using a two-minute countdown, complete with fire sounds.
An additional version of the tool, known as Kid Mode, is available for younger users with less intense visuals.
The tool also includes a Safety Hub offering printable escape plans, safety checklists, and links to further educational materials.
Canadian fire safety organisations support launch
The simulator was developed in collaboration with several fire safety organisations in Canada and abroad.
Partners included the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE), and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
Laura King, Canadian Director at NFPA, said: “It’s crucial that we continue to evolve the way we educate and prepare people for emergencies. Prepare. Plan. Practice. serves as a powerful example of how technology can be leveraged to help make life-saving fire safety knowledge more engaging, accessible, and actionable for today’s families.”
She added: “We’re proud to see messaging from NFPA’s Educational Messaging Advisory Committee Desk Reference — the global resource for public education messaging — incorporated into innovative solutions that help advance public safety.”
Jamie Kovacs, Executive Director at the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, said: “At the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, one of our goals has always been to make fire and life safety education widely accessible.”
Kovacs added: “This invaluable new tool supports that mission by engaging families directly in their homes. It’s a powerful way to reinforce what kids learn at school and help close the gap in fire preparedness at home.”
Ivanette Bonilla highlights household education gap
Ivanette Bonilla, Chief Communications and Government Relations Officer at Kidde, said the tool was designed to address the lack of fire safety practice at home.
Bonilla said: “By leveraging cutting-edge AR technology, this tool makes essential fire safety education more accessible, engaging, and actionable.”
She added: “Children may participate in up to 10 fire drills at school each year, but few families practice fire safety at home where fires are more likely to happen — underscoring the need to bring this experience into households to help families prepare together.”
Bonilla explained that no downloads or purchases are required to use the tool, allowing for broad access across devices.
She added that the experience helps develop critical skills and decision-making abilities under time pressure.
Online resources complement digital training
In addition to the simulator, Kidde has made further educational materials available through its website.
The site includes a downloadable Fire Safety Toolkit available in seven languages.
Other materials include a children’s song titled “Beeps that Last Get Out Fast” and a storybook titled Safety Saves the Day!.
According to Kidde, all these resources are designed to be used at home to support family-based fire safety planning.
The digital tool and educational suite can be accessed through CauseForAlarm.org/Canada.
Kidde releases augmented reality fire safety simulator for Canadian households: Summary
Kidde has released a digital AR-based fire safety training tool for Canadian households.
The tool is named “Prepare. Plan. Practice.” and forms part of the Cause For Alarm campaign.
It allows users to simulate fire scenarios and practise household escape plans using a smartphone or tablet.
It is free to access through a browser, requiring no downloads.
Three interactive modes are available: Demonstration, Learn, and Practice, with an optional Kid Mode.
A Safety Hub offers supplementary resources including printable escape plans and checklists.
The launch is supported by the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, and Ontario Association of Fire Educators.
NFPA Canadian Director Laura King endorsed the tool’s educational value.
Executive Director Jamie Kovacs of the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Council also supported its home engagement approach.
Ivanette Bonilla of Kidde emphasised the importance of home-based fire preparedness.
The tool is intended to address the gap between school-based fire drills and home readiness.
It is now available at CauseForAlarm.org/Canada.