Firefighter Sims

The Apparatus Bay: What’s New in Fire & Emergency Sims Right Now

2026-10-30T07:20:17.215-07:00

If you haven’t updated your Steam library or checked in on your go-to emergency response sims over the past few weeks, developers have pushed several major updates and expansions that fundamentally change how calls run.

From deep technical rescue mechanics to overhaul overhauls, here are the biggest highlights across the sim scene.

1. Firefighting Simulator: Ignite – Heavy Rescue & Construction Disasters

weltenbauer. and astragon have been leaning hard into scenarios beyond standard single-family residential fires:

Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Expansion: If you missed this drop, it’s easily the most extensive mechanical update the title has seen. It moves past running attack lines and forces players to work scene stabilization, hydraulic spreaders, cutters, and battery/fluid hazard management.

Construction Site Mission DLC: Following up on extrication, the latest mission pack drops crews into multi-story building site emergencies. You’re dealing with structural collapse risks, exposed electrical runs, and tricky vertical access that makes positioning the aerial truck and choosing your entry path much more tactical than kicking in a front door.

2. Flashing Lights – The "Light Stages" Overhaul & First Responder Packs

Excalibur Games just rolled out a major systems update alongside new responder content:

Granular Light Stages: The lighting system received a massive tactical upgrade. Players can now build up to 64 custom steps across 5 distinct lighting stages. You can isolate front vs. rear lightbars (crucial for blocking traffic on a highway scene without blinding approaching drivers) and toggle whether specific stages make AI traffic yield or stop.

Two-Wheel Response: They also dropped the First Responder Motorcycle Pack, adding rapid-response bikes with dedicated fire, EMS, and law enforcement liveries. While a fire bike isn’t pulling a 2.5-inch attack line anytime soon, it’s a fun option for fast reconnaissance and staging ahead of the engines.

3. Into the Flames & EMERGENCY – Tactical Adjustments & Community Focus

Incident Command Focus: For the RTS crowd running EMERGENCY, ongoing community patches have dialed in cooperative squad coordination and multi-agency response, particularly smoothing out the transitions between triage, patient transport, and perimeter hazmat containment.

Indie Scene Physics: Across the indie fire sim community, recent developer devlogs and experimental builds have been zeroing in on ventilation path physics—rewarding players for coordinating hydraulic or positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) instead of just venting random windows and making fire behavior worse.
Quick Take: What We Want to See Next

While the new extrication tools and vehicle lighting customizations are huge leaps forward, the sim community is still clamoring for two core mechanics:

Realistic Zero-Visibility Searches: Give us true smoke conditions where you actually have to keep a hand on the wall or rely 100% on a TIC (Thermal Imaging Camera).

Mayday & RIT Scenarios: Having to locate and buddy-breathe a downed firefighter would add an adrenaline spike that no basic flashover mechanic can touch.

What’s currently in your rotation? Are you running solo command or staging multi-unit multiplayer lobbies? Let us know in the comments.

Is Ambulance Life A Paramedic Simulator Realistic Enough for First Responders?

2026-05-31T16:00:12.739-07:00

Today we are looking at Ambulance Life A Paramedic Simulator. We know our community loves first responder games. We decided to dive into the online chat rooms to see what players and real paramedics are saying about this new release.

The Atmosphere and Variety

Many players appreciate the overall vibe of the game. The city of San Pelicano looks great and feels alive. The sirens sound very authentic as you speed down the streets. The game features fifteen different call types with a surprising amount of variety. You will face everything from minor injuries to massive explosions. The mass casualty events really stand out. They require you to perform triage and make very tough decisions under pressure.

Medical Realism Falls Short

However real medical professionals have pointed out several major issues. The medical procedures often sacrifice realism for the sake of gameplay. Players have noted that the available treatments do not always match the actual diagnosis. For example you might treat a trauma patient with medications that do not make sense for their specific injury.

The game also relies heavily on minigames for patient care. You literally have to complete a rhythm game just to apply a bandage. Real paramedics find this extremely frustrating and immersion breaking. Many players wish the game offered more realistic options for setting up IV bags and administering medications.

Performance and Traffic Headaches

Gamers are also reporting significant performance problems across the board. The game suffers from severe lag and stuttering even on high end computer rigs. The developers highly recommend installing the game on a solid state drive to help minimize these issues.

Driving the ambulance can also turn into a nightmare. The traffic artificial intelligence is very inconsistent. Sometimes cars will beautifully part and move out of your way. Other times they will completely freeze in the middle of the road and force you to crash into them.

The Final Verdict

If you want an arcade style emergency game you might actually enjoy this. It definitely offers a nice change of pace from typical police simulators. If you want a deeply realistic medical simulation you might want to hold off and wait for updates. The developers do have a medical advisory board and they are actively working on patches. For now the game sits with very mixed reviews from the community.

The Top 10 Firefighter Games of 2025

2025-10-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

The call has gone out, and the gaming industry has responded. 2025 has been a standout year for firefighter simulation games, mixing long-awaited high-budget releases with solid updates to beloved classics. Whether you want to manage a full-scale city-wide emergency, battle a raging wildfire, or just drive the big red truck, there's a game for you.

Here are the top 10 firefighter games to play in 2025.

1. Firefighting Simulator: Ignite

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Without a doubt, Ignite is the biggest firefighting release of 2025. This new title from Weltenbauer. and Astragon Entertainment (the team behind Construction Simulator) is a true next-generation experience. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it features stunningly realistic fire, smoke, and water physics. You can play solo with an AI crew or, for the first time in this series, in a 4-player co-op multiplayer mode. With licensed Rosenbauer America vehicles and authentic gear, this is the new gold standard for firefighting sims.

2. Emergency HQ

Platform(s): iOS, Android

The "Emergency" series has long been a leader in top-down command strategy, and Emergency HQ remains the king of mobile firefighting. It's not just a firefighter game; it's a full-on rescue-service management sim. You build your own base, dispatch and command units from the fire department, medical services, police, and technical units. With constant updates and community events, it’s a game you can play for 10 minutes or two hours.

3. Flashing Lights: Police, Fire, EMS

Platform(s): PC

A long-time favorite in the simulation community, Flashing Lights continues to be a top contender in 2025. This open-world simulator lets you and your friends take on the roles of police, fire, or EMS. The firefighting gameplay is robust, from using the Jaws of Life at a car accident to extinguishing multi-story building fires. Its strength lies in its multiplayer role-playing, making it a must-have for groups who want to create their own rescue stories.

4. Rescue Ops: Wildfire

Platform(s): PC (Planned)

While still in development with a planned 2025/2026 release, Rescue Ops: Wildfire has already captured the community's attention. This game moves away from the typical urban setting to focus on the incredibly challenging world of wildland firefighting. Set in a detailed French Mediterranean environment, you'll have to manage ground crews, water-bomber planes, and changing wind conditions to stop massive, unpredictable forest fires. Keep this one on your wishlist.

5. Emergency 5

Platform(s): PC

Even years after its release, Emergency 5 (and its predecessors) remains a benchmark for real-time strategy (RTS) rescue games. As a commander, you must manage a pool of vehicles and personnel to tackle large-scale scenarios, from train crashes to floods. It’s less about the first-person experience of holding a hose and more about the high-level strategic challenge of resource management under extreme pressure.

6. Into the Flames

Platform(s): PC

Developed by a real-life firefighter, Into the Flames offers a level of authenticity that many others miss. It's an open-world simulation that can be played solo or with up to 12 players in multiplayer. The game features realistic fire behavior, including backdrafts and flashovers, and a wide range of calls. You can drive multiple truck types, from engines to ladder trucks, and even take on the role of a tiller operator.

7. Teardown

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

This might seem like an odd choice, but hear it out. Teardown is a game built on a fully destructible, voxel-based physics engine. While the main game is about heists, its fire-propagation physics are second to none. The modding community has embraced this, creating incredible firefighting mods and maps. If you want to see fire spread realistically from object to object and then use an extinguisher or axe to stop it, Teardown provides a uniquely satisfying (and chaotic) experience.

8. 911 Operator

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile

Ever wondered what it's like to be on the other end of the call? 911 Operator puts you in the dispatcher's chair. You are responsible for answering frantic calls, giving life-saving instructions, and dispatching the correct units (fire, police, and EMS) to the scene. It’s a high-stress, brilliantly executed strategy game that gives you a different perspective on emergency response.

9. EmergeNYC

Platform(s): PC

EmergeNYC is one of the most ambitious simulation projects out there, modeling New York City's emergency services. While still in early access, it has a fiercely loyal following. It aims to be the most realistic simulation on the market, with detailed truck operations, complex fire mechanics, and a massive, true-to-life map. It's a game for the hardcore simulation fan who wants to follow procedure to the letter.

10. Fire Truck Simulator (2025)

Platform(s): iOS, Android

For a quick and easy-to-play mobile experience, Fire Truck Simulator delivers. This game focuses purely on the driving and operation of various fire trucks. You'll navigate city streets with your lights and sirens, hook up to hydrants, and operate the ladder and hose to put out fires. It's a great "pick up and play" game for when you just want to get straight to the action.

Firefighting Simulator - The Squad: Mastering the High-Rise Mission

2025-10-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hey there, Incident Commanders! Welcome back to firefightersims.com, your go-to source for everything firefighting simulation. Today, we're tackling one of the most challenging and realistic scenarios in Firefighting Simulator - The Squad: the High-Rise Mission.

These aren't your typical residential kitchen fires. High-rise incidents test your planning, resource management, and understanding of vertical fire spread. Get it wrong, and you're looking at a rapidly escalating inferno. Get it right, and you'll walk away feeling like a true professional.

Let's dive into the strategies you need to master these towering infernos.

Understanding the Unique Challenges of High-Rise Fires

Before we get into tactics, let's quickly review why high-rise fires are so different in Firefighting Simulator:

Vertical Fire Spread: Heat and smoke naturally rise. Fire can quickly spread upwards through windows, elevator shafts, and stairwells.
Long Lays: Getting water to the upper floors takes significantly more hose and pressure.
Search & Rescue Complexity: More floors mean more potential victims and longer search times. Smoke conditions can be extreme.
Logistics: Elevators may be compromised, forcing your team to use stairs, leading to fatigue and slower response times.

Initial Size-Up: Your First Steps

As soon as you arrive on scene, get a good look at the building.

Identify the Fire Floor: Where is the main body of fire? Is it venting from multiple windows?
Locate Access Points: Are there exterior fire escapes? Where are the main stairwells and elevators?
Victim Potential: Look for signs of occupants. Are people at windows?

Pro-Tip: Don't hesitate to pull out your thermal imaging camera (TIC) during your initial walk-around. It can give you crucial intel on hidden fire pockets or victims from the exterior.

Deployment Strategy: Getting Water & Personnel Where They're Needed

This is where high-rise tactics diverge significantly.

1. The Engine Company: Securing Your Water Supply

Position Strategically: Park your pumper to allow good access to hydrants and, if possible, to put a master stream (deck gun) on a lower-floor exterior fire, but don't rely solely on it for interior attack.
Establish a Standpipe (If Available): Many high-rise buildings in the game will have standpipes. This is your primary method for getting water to upper floors. Locate the FDC (Fire Department Connection) on the exterior of the building and connect your engine to it.
Hose Lays: If no standpipe, prepare for a long, arduous hose lay up the stairwell. This will require multiple hose sections and a coordinated effort.

2. The Ladder Company: Ventilation, Access, and Rescue

Aerial Placement: Position your ladder truck for potential aerial rescues from windows or for elevated master stream operations if the fire is contained to upper floors and an interior attack is not feasible or safe.
Forced Entry & Search: Your ladder crew (or a dedicated search team) is crucial for rapid entry, opening doors, and conducting primary searches on the fire floor and floors above.
Vertical Ventilation (Carefully!): Opening windows on the fire floor can help vent smoke and heat. However, be cautious; improper ventilation can feed the fire oxygen. Aim to vent above the fire if possible, or coordinate carefully with the attack crew.

The Attack: Pushing In and Up

1. Establish a Staging Area (Floor Below the Fire)

This is critical in real life and a good habit in the game. Send your initial attack crew to the floor below the fire. This allows them to don SCBA, prepare their hose line, and get a feel for conditions before entering the inferno.

If using a standpipe, connect your hose line here and charge it.

2. Coordinated Attack

Advance on the Fire Floor: Once water is charged, advance with your hose team. Use short bursts of water to cool the environment and push back the fire.
Search and Rescue First: Prioritize searching for and removing victims on the fire floor and directly above. Your TIC is your best friend in smoky conditions.
Containment: Work to prevent horizontal spread across the fire floor and, crucially, vertical spread to floors above.

AI Teammates: Maximize Their Effectiveness

Don't forget your AI team! They are invaluable in high-rise scenarios.

Assign Specific Tasks: Don't just let them wander. Direct one to "Connect Hose to Hydrant," another to "Connect to Standpipe," and others to "Search & Rescue" specific floors.
"Follow Me" for Complex Tasks: If you need help with a difficult hose lay or search, use the "Follow Me" command to bring them directly to where they're most effective.
Recharge SCBA: Keep an eye on your AI teammates' air levels. They'll need to swap out bottles just like you do.

Post-Fire Operations

Overhaul: Even after the main fire is out, check for hidden hot spots in walls, ceilings, and furniture using your TIC.
Salvage: Protect property from water damage.
Ventilation: Continue to ventilate the building to clear smoke and heat.

High-Rise Mission Checklist

Hydrant Connection: Secure water source.
Standpipe Connection (FDC): If available, connect and charge!
Staging Area (1 Floor Below): Prepare your attack.
Attack Line Advanced: Push into the fire.
Primary Search: Fire floor and floors above.
Ventilation: Coordinate to clear smoke.
Overhaul & Salvage: Finish strong.

Mastering high-rise missions in Firefighting Simulator - The Squad is incredibly rewarding. It forces you to think like a true Incident Commander, prioritizing life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation. Keep practicing, keep learning, and you'll be knocking down those high-rises like a pro.

The Unofficial Firefighter Life: Mods and CC to Create a Fire Station in The Sims 4

2025-09-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Sims 4 offers countless ways to live out our wildest (or most mundane) dreams. We can be astronauts, chefs, famous painters, or even paranormal investigators. But what if your Sim dreams of rushing into burning buildings, saving lives, and driving a big red truck?
Unfortunately, unlike The Sims 3: Ambitions, The Sims 4 doesn't feature an active firefighter career in its base game or current expansion packs. This can be a real bummer for players wanting to experience the heroism and drama of a first responder. The incredibly creative Sims 4 modding community has stepped up to fill the void. With a combination of game-changing mods and fantastic custom content (CC), you can absolutely build a bustling fire station, give your Sims a fulfilling firefighting career, and immerse yourself in the unofficial firefighter life.

To truly run a fire station, your Sims need a job that lets them respond to emergencies. This is where active career mods come in.

KiaraSims4Mods' Active Firefighter Career Mod

Kiara's mod transforms a regular rabbit hole career into an active one, similar to those found in Get to Work. Your Sim will actually go to a fire station lot, punch in, and receive dispatch calls. You'll be able to follow them to emergencies, put out fires, rescue Sims, and even perform maintenance tasks.
Includes daily tasks, promotions, unique interactions with colleagues and victims, and a genuine sense of progression. It truly makes you feel like you're part of an emergency service team.
Search for "KiaraSims4Mods Active Firefighter Career" on your preferred Sims 4 modding sites (like Mod The Sims or The Sims Resource, though direct links to creators' Patreon/Tumblr are often best for the latest versions).

Always ensure your game is updated, and check that your mods are compatible with the latest game patch. Always back up your saves before installing new mods.

Once you have the career mod, it's time to furnish your fire station and equip your Sims.

Fire Trucks & Emergency Vehicles
While functional driveable fire trucks are difficult to implement in The Sims 4, many talented creators have made amazing decorative fire truck CC. These can be placed outside your station to give it an authentic look. Some even come with working lights! If you're building a larger emergency services hub, decorative ambulances and police cars can complement your fire truck.
Where to Find: Search for "Sims 4 fire truck CC," "emergency vehicle CC Sims 4."

Firefighter Uniforms & Gear
Your Sims need their iconic protective gear! Look for full firefighter uniforms, helmets, boots, and even oxygen tanks (as decorative accessories) to complete their look. Don't forget casual uniforms for when they're off-duty at the station – t-shirts with fire department logos, utility pants, etc.
Where to Find: "Sims 4 firefighter uniform CC," "firefighter helmet CC Sims 4."

Station Decor & Furniture
Firefighters often live at the station during shifts. Find functional bunk beds or single beds that look like they belong in a firehouse dorm. Create a communal kitchen, dining area, and a relaxed common room with sofas, a TV, and maybe a pool table or foosball table for downtime. Fitness is crucial for firefighters! Stock a gym area with treadmills, weightlifting benches, and punching bags. Desks, computers, filing cabinets, and dispatch radios for the administrative side of the station. Add maps, bulletin boards, framed awards, lockers, and fire extinguishers to enhance the realism.

Where to Find: "Sims 4 fire station CC pack," "industrial furniture Sims 4," "firefighter decor Sims 4." Look for creators who make themed CC packs, as these often have a consistent style.

Sirens & Lights
While not always functional, some CC includes decorative siren lights that you can place on your station roof or entrance to give it that authentic emergency vibe.
The Blueprint: Building Your Sim Fire Station

Once you have your mods and CC, it's time to build. Here are some tips for designing a functional and immersive fire station. A larger lot (30x20 or 40x30 and up) is ideal, especially if you want space for a decorative fire truck, training yard, and living quarters. Dedicate a large section of your ground floor to vehicle bays. Use large garage doors (some CC garage doors are purely decorative, but look great!) and leave plenty of open space for your decorative fire trucks.

Set up several small bedrooms with bunk beds or single beds. A large kitchen and dining area are essential. Add a comfortable common room for Sims to relax, watch TV, or play game. Multiple showers and toilets are a must for a busy station. Dedicate a room or outdoor space to fitness equipment. Firefighters need to stay in shape. A small office space with computers and desks for administrative tasks and dispatch calls. Consider an outdoor training area, a small garden for relaxation, or even a barbecue pit for station cookouts. While not truly functional for quick descent in The Sims 4, you can use CC poles or clever build mode tricks to simulate a fire pole visually between floors.

Gameplay Tips
Create multiple Sims and assign them the active firefighter career. Have them live together at the station lot for a true communal experience. Encourage your Sims to build their Fitness and Handiness skills – these will be crucial for success in their career. With Kiara's mod, pay attention to the dispatch calls. Respond quickly and effectively to save lives and earn promotions! Show the camaraderie of firefighters by having them cook meals together, work out, or play games during their downtime at the station. Don't forget the Sim drama! What happens when two firefighters fall in love? Or when a rookie makes a mistake?

Thanks to the incredible dedication of the Sims 4 modding and CC community, living out a firefighter's life in your game is entirely possible. It takes a little setup, but the reward of seeing your brave Sims rush to emergencies, save lives, and return to their custom-built station is incredibly satisfying.
So, download those mods, gather your CC, and start building. Your Sim City is counting on you to keep it safe from blazing infernos!

Remove Ready For Repair Status In Find My iPhone

2025-07-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

This blog post is a little off topic, not fire related. It took me a few tries to figure this one out and I did not find good instructions to fix the issue. So here is a post I hope helps you out. I took my iPhone in to an authorized repair store to get a new battery. I have a 12 Pro which I really like and am not ready to pay on a new phone just yet. My battery health was right at 80% so it seemed like a good time.

So how this works now in iOS 18 is the tech had me swipe to delete my phone in the Find My app which puts the phone in a repair mode. When Repair Mode is enabled, the device is marked as "Ready for Repair" in the Find My app. This allows you to still track the device, but also enables technicians to access the device for diagnostics and repairs without needing to disable Find My or erase the device's data.

The thing is after I got home, the repair mode was still on. Under my phone in Find My it has this ready for repair box. The technician never mentioned anything about this still being there.

Some forum posts noted it will reset in a couple of days but I did not wait to see if it fixed itself. It took me a combination of several different forum posts to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to get this removed. I think the biggest reason I could not figure out how to reset it was I had some content restrictions on to prevent someone from resetting my password if my phone was lost.

If you have content restrictions turned on or are just trying to remove the ready for repair, here are all the steps in one post.

First go under setting to Content and Privacy Restrictions. Make sure this is set to off. If this is on, turn it off. Next is important. You will need to reboot your phone. If you do not, some of the next settings may not be available. I know because this is what happened to me.

Now that content and privacy restrictions are off, do the following:

Next turn off Stolen Device Protection. Again for me this part was a pain and for security reasons the phone made me wait an hour. To do this go to Settings -> Face ID & Passcode. Put in your pin. Next check Stolen Device Protection to Off. Use face id if needed to confirm.

Next you will turn off Find My. Under Settings just search for Find My (apple account). Next click Find My Phone and turn it off. Put in your Apple id password. You'll get a message it was turned off. No need to leave this screen. Click Find My Phone and turn it back on.

From here, go to your Find My App and amazing, the message that you are ready for repair is gone. Now don't forget to go back into Settings and turn all your restrictions back to where you had them before. I think all my attempts to lock down my phone made it difficult to remove the ready for repair message.

Feel free to comment if this worked for you or other tips to make this an easier process.

Ignite: Firefighting Simulator Arriving Fall 2025

2025-06-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a firefighter, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is about to give you the most realistic experience possible. This game, developed by Weltenbauer and published by Astragon Entertainment, takes firefighting simulations to a whole new level. Whether you’re playing solo or teaming up with friends, you’ll be stepping into the boots of a real firefighter, responding to emergencies, saving lives, and battling intense fires.

One of the coolest things about this game is how realistic it is. Fires don’t just sit there waiting for you to put them out—they spread dynamically, reacting to the environment, materials, and ventilation. If you don’t handle a fire correctly, it can quickly get out of control. You’ll need to use real firefighting tactics, like ventilating rooms, cooling overheated objects, and choosing the right extinguishing agents. The game even includes officially licensed firefighting gear from brands like HAIX®, Fire-Dex, and STIHL, so everything looks and feels authentic.

The game isn’t just about putting out fires—it’s about teamwork. You can play with up to three friends in co-op mode, where you’ll need to coordinate your efforts to contain fires, rescue civilians, and navigate dangerous environments. If you prefer playing solo, the single-player mode lets you command an AI-controlled crew that follows your orders. Either way, teamwork is key, because firefighting isn’t a one-person job.

Visually, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is stunning. Built with Unreal Engine 5, the game features realistic fire behavior, immersive environmental effects, and detailed cityscapes. Fires behave like they do in real life, meaning you’ll have to deal with flashovers (sudden bursts of fire), backdrafts (explosive fire reactions when oxygen rushes in), and even structural collapses if a building gets too damaged. Every mission feels intense and unpredictable, keeping you on your toes.

Between missions, you’ll hang out at the fire station hub, where you can train with firefighting tools, inspect your fleet of licensed Rosenbauer fire trucks, and choose your next emergency mission. You can also customize your firefighter by selecting different characters and outfits, making the experience feel more personal.

For PC players, the game supports modding, meaning you can create custom missions and share them with the community. Console players can also download new missions made by other players, so there’s always fresh content to explore.

Overall, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is shaping up to be the most advanced firefighting simulation ever made. With realistic fire physics, cooperative gameplay, and authentic firefighting equipment, it offers an experience that’s both thrilling and educational. Whether you’re playing for fun or because you’re interested in firefighting, this game will challenge you to think fast, work as a team, and save lives.

Are you ready to take on the heat? Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is launching soon—get ready to suit up and fight the flames!

Fire Commander: First Response coming to Steam

2022-03-13T05:48:00.004-07:00

I was on the look out for firefighting sims today and found this new game coming to Steam. It is not available yet for download, so I am not able to provide a review, but wanted to let you know it is at least announced that it is coming out.

Here is the information on the Steam site:

Fire Commander: First Response is the free prologue to Fire Commander. Play three varied missions where your task is to lead your team and deal with the crisis. Control the tactical action in real time, with active pause. Use different classes of firefighters and the vehicles at your disposal. Use your assets creatively to discover multiple ways of dealing with any situation. See if you have what it takes to be the Fire Commander.

The full version of Fire Commander will have you dealing with a variety of environments and dangers, including a plane crash and a toxic spill. You will also frequently visit your fire station to specialize and develop your crew. Utilize different vehicles, class specializations and tools. In action, consider such factors as backdraft, smoke, or materials with a different combustion temperature. The welfare of your crew and the success of the missions will depend on your decisions.

Features Three varied missions:

Creative approach to any situation

Real time tactical action with active pause

Different types of firefighters and vehicles

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS MINIMUM: OS: Windows(64-bit) 7 or Newer Processor: Intel Core i3 3.0 GHz Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 660 2GB Sound Card: Yes

To check it out yourself and see more screenshots, here is the link to the app on Steam.

Play Just Dance on Amazon Fire TV Stick

2022-01-28T12:39:00.001-08:00

Whatever your career we all need to get some exercise and it is not always easy to find a good place to workout or to find a fun workout that is inexpensive. Since the kids were little my wife has always enjoyed playing Just Dance as an easy and inexpensive way to work out at home. When the kids were little she orginally played on the Nintendo Wii and the kids were able to play along. What a win-win since she got a little break and was still able to keep the kids occupied. Recently the Wii finally died and she did not really want to buy a Switch since the kids are pretty grown now. She recently got a subscription to Just Dance Now for $24.99 per year via the Google Play Store. This allows you to play the game with a large library of songs by using your phone as the controller and then casting the video to another screen via Chromecast.

She was having a lot of issues as we have an older Chormecast and it kept disconnecting all the time. After getting totally frustrated she was about to give up when our daughter said "There is a browser on the Fire TV just go to the website and use it that way." At first my wife was like no that is not going to work, but after a little research this was a great plan. Just Dance Now will let you use any computer or tablet as the screen by just going to the website JustDanceNow.com. Once you hit play it will take you to a dance room you can join via the app on your phone. Just like with Chromecast you use your phone as the controller and watch the game via the browser on whatever screen you are using. One thing she has found is that there was a lag via the network when using the Chromecast. Now she uses the browser on the Fire TV, there is not a lag on screen and her scores are higher.

There is one simple setting you will need to adjust to get this to work for you on the Fire TV. On your Fire TV click on the Internet app. In the url bar input: justdancenow.com. When you first go there the website will not work. In the browser menu across the top is an icon that looks like and old console TV. Click that button. The changes the setting to "Request Desktop Sites". The page refreshes and you will get an Accept screen. Click ACCEPT. Now the play button will show up and you can play the game right on your TV without a console. I was really impressed how easy this was and surprised I could not find these instructions on the internet. You can play two games for free each day without a subscription so have fun trying it for free!

Activities for Kids that Teach Fire Safety

2020-03-25T11:45:00.002-07:00

With lots of kids home for an extended period of time, parents have been looking for worksheets and online activities to do. Don't forget that fire safety is something many kids learn at school and with schools closed now is a great time to download fire safety activity sheets or watch some learning videos online. What about a fire drill? Many adults are not even sure how they would get out of the house if there was a fire blocking the stairs or their bedroom door. Ask your kids to setup the escape routes and meeting points for your house. You will be surprised at some of the great ideas the kids will have plus it will allow you to assess whether or not the kids and yourself actually have a plan you can execute in case of a fire in the house. Here are some great resources you can use for free.

CloseYourDoor.org is a site setup by the UL Fire Safety Research Institute discussing the importance of closing your bedroom door at night. Due to the abundance of synthetic materials in our houses, fires spread much more quickly then they did in the past. They recommend closing the door as a way to reduce the spread of a fire and reduce the toxic fumes. The site has some videos and a coloring activity page you can print for the kids.

NFSC, Inc.'s "Free Downloads & Online Resource Center" offers FREE special materials available online only. Many of these resources have been designed as companions to specific sets of materials and can be used to reward children for learning important fire safety lessons. They are available as downloadable PDF files free of charge and may be printed or duplicated in reasonable quantities by fire departments, teachers, or parents for educational purposes. On the site there are a couple of coloring pages as well as printable certificates. Why not give the kids a little reward after your fire drill and give them a printed certificate.

US Fire Administration has some great Sesame Street Fire Safety downloads. You may not know that more than half of child fire deaths are among children age 4 or younger – making them an important audience for fire prevention and education. The Sesame Street Fire Safety Program curriculum for preschoolers is available in both English and Spanish.

Tactile Helmet Could Help Firefighters Find Their Way

2013-03-30T17:31:00.001-07:00

A specially-adapted 'tactile helmet', developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield, could provide fire-fighters operating in challenging conditions with vital clues about their surroundings.
The helmet is fitted with a number of ultrasound sensors that are used to detect the distances between the helmet and nearby walls or other obstacles. These signals are transmitted to vibration pads that are attached to the inside of the helmet, touching the wearer's forehead. Rescue workers, such as fire-fighters, who might be working in dark conditions or in buildings filled with smoke, will be able to use the signals to find walls and other obstacles that could help guide them through unfamiliar environments.

It is anticipated that a lightweight version of the technology could also be useful to people with visual impairments, acting as an additional 'sense' to guide users or to help them avoid hazards.
Invented by a team of researchers at the Sheffield Centre for Robotics (SCentRo), the helmet was inspired by research into tactile sensing in rodents, whose whiskers give early warning of potential hazards.

Professor Tony Prescott of the University of Sheffield and director of SCentRo, said: "When a firefighter is responding to an emergency situation he will be using his eyes and ears to make sense of his environment, trying to make out objects in a smoke filled room, for example, or straining to hear sounds from people who might need rescuing. We found that in these circumstances it was difficult to process additional information through these senses. Using the sense of touch, however, we were able to deliver additional information effectively."

The team also found that the helmet was the ideal place to locate the vibrating pads because, although the fingertips might seem a more obvious choice, stimuli delivered to the wearer's forehead enabled them to respond more rapidly to the signals, and would also leave their hands free for other tasks.
The prototype helmet was developed using a Rosenbauer helmet donated by Northfire Ltd and was produced following a two-year research project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have also assisted, providing advice during the development period as well as access to their training facility. The next step is to find a commercial partner interested in further developing the helmet.

The helmet will be on show at this year's Gadget Show Live, to be held at the NEC in Birmingham from 3-7 April 2013. For more information go to: http://www.gadgetshowlive.net/.

Emergency's Randolph Mantooth At Fire-Rescue Med

2011-05-08T13:22:00.003-07:00

I headed out again this year to Las Vegas for Fire-Rescue Med. I attended last year and found it well worth the trip. I really wanted to go again this year so I made sure I put in my training request early. I recommend EMS Personnel and Narcotics Tampering: Awareness and Prevention, interesting stuff. I saw Randolph Mantooth at the conference last year and am looking forward to seeing him again. This was an old post and the original video was out of date. I have updated with a nice video of Mantooth discussing becoming a real paramedic.

German Fire Simulator Game

2011-04-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

In my continuous search for fire simulators, today I came across a German PC game. The game is called Feuerwehr Simulator 2010. Below is the trailer and I went to the website and used Google to translate it. Here are the details of the game:

What Fire fans have been waiting for. The fire simulator 2010 provides for the first time a realistic fire simulation from a first person perspective of the fireman. The development studio VSTEP also stands out for professional fire simulations for firefighters.

Take on the role of one or more men of a fire station. In various scenarios, you have to fight fires or rescue people. Here you have the extensive use your equipment vehicles: tubes / pipes, axes, aerial ladder, breathing apparatus etc.

The following missions are in the simulation:

•Small fire in a locked house
•Burning gas station
•Traffic accident in tunnel
•Train accident
•Save children from a burning building
•Fire on a ship in port
•Truck accident involving hazardous materials, etc.

Of course, you can view the entire scene in the 3rd-person view. The Simulator 2010 brings for the first time the daily lives of professional firefighters in a simulation on the PC.

Firefighter Websites For Kids

2011-04-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

There are some great interactive site for kids related to firefighters. Here is a list of a few of my favorites.

Scholastic Firefighter Community Club
http://teacher.scholastic.com/commclub/firefighter/
You can input up to 25 names and print Junior Firefighter badges for students. There is also an interactive learning quiz and a teacher's guide.
Smokey Bear
http://www.smokeybear.com
Smokey Bear has his own website. Kids can play action-packed campfire games such as Put Out the Fire and Smokey's Trail Blaze. They will also learn tips for fire prevention and campfire fun.
Sparky's Homepage
http://www.nfpa.org/sparky/
Kids can tour Sparky the Firedog's website, which is packed with safety-related tips, crafts, and games all especially for kids. Kids will love to hear a real fire bell in the truck photo gallery. There are also instructions on how to make an origami Sparky puppet.Help Sparky get from classroom to playground in a mock fire drill.
U.S. Fire Administration's Kids' Page
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/
Kids can become a junior fire marshal on this website designed just for kids. Children learn about safety and then take quizzes and play games to test their understanding. Have fun learning about safety by checking out Hydro's Hazard House.

Build A Fire Training Roof Prop

2011-03-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

Many departments have a roof prop available at their training grounds, but it is not always convenient to use. It's nice to have something compact available at the station that can be used for practice. The guys are always asking me to help them build something and I have found several sites that have some good pictures and diagrams which can be used to help build your own roof training prop.

Fire Engineering has some good articles with photos. Here are some good links listed below:

Adjustable Roof Prop

Ventilation Prop

There are also quite a few posts out there regarding roof props on the fireengineering.com forums.

Some more pictures of three different props at the DCFD training facility are posted at www.vententersearch.com

For a variety of pictures of inexpensive training props, you can check out this document from the Indiana Dept of Homeland Security. It contains close up pictures and estimated costs to build.

Firefighter Photo Site

2011-03-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let everyone know about a new photo site I am working on. I was trying to think of a really great way for firefighters to share their pictures. I am not super high tech yet so I am working on a blog and pulling pictures from across the web that I really like. The new website I am working on is called firefighterphotos.com.

I thought is was a great name and also found a pretty good looking blog template. Right now I am pulling in photos from across the web that allow sharing (creative commons) and posting them. The only problem is that most of the photo sites do not have any stories that relate to the photos. I would really like to be able to get some great stories to also post. If anyone is looking to share some pictures or looking to get some backlinks for their fire blog or department page, send me a line. If you have some picture that you are the owner of just email me and I will post and hook you up with a link on my page to your site. Right now I only would like to link to fire or ems related sites.

If you have time check out the site so far (I still need a lot more pictures) and post a comment if you have any suggestions. Thanks everyone!

Fire Rescue International (FRI) 2011

2011-03-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Fire-Rescue International will be held this year at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from August 23-27. Exhibits will run from August 26-27. FRI is a great way to network with other departments and to find out about new products and technology.

The FRI Expo will be open on Friday from 10:30-17:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00. This is where you can see new product launches and check out the latest upgrades to current equipment. There will be a Technology Pavilion and a Health and Wellness Pavilion.

Co-located events include the National Society of Executive Fire Officer's annual Leadership Conference on Tuesday the 23rd through Thursday the 25th and the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters (NAHF) annual conference and business meeting which starts on Wednesday the 24th.

A full range of training events are also scheduled during the event. For more information about the expo, training opportunities, and registration go to the FRI 2011 site.

Free Firefighter Blogger Template

2011-02-12T14:41:00.002-08:00

I made the template intothefire for WordPress a while back and it is really starting to catch on. There a quite a few sites on the web using the template. I decided to share the love with the Blogger blogs as well. I have made a new template using my hazmat training picture for Blogger. The pictures are hosted on Picasa, but I am also including them in the zip file if you would like to host them yourself. You will just need to change the links. Feel free to use and share this template, and please help me out by leaving my link in the footer. Thanks and enjoy.

Demo here

Download here

Get the wordpress template here.

Video: Fire Truck Simulator

2011-01-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

I found this video on Youtube and tracked it back to the University of Rhode Island Transportation Center (URITC) web page. There really was not a lot of information on the page a bout the simulator. Here is the video. If anyone has more info, please post a comment. Thanks.

Fire Scene Simulator 6 No Longer Available

2011-01-08T05:36:00.000-08:00

I went to check out Fire Scene Simulator 6 today and found it was no longer available for download. Fire Scene Simulator was a free software download that allowed users to import photos of local structures within their department’s jurisdiction and add animated fire and smoke to those structures. When I went to the website this message was posted:

Thank you for your interest in Fire Scene Simulator 6. However, Fire Scene Simulator 6 and Simulator 6 expanded are no longer available for download or purchase. The creators of the program are going back and redeveloping the software to make it compatible with current operating systems.

There is a link to fill out a survey so you can be notified of the next release.

Firefighter Tattoo Network

2011-01-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I have not written much lately. I had some time home over the holidays so I decided to do my usual web surfing and look for some things to post on the blog. I came across an interesting site today called Strike the Box. This website is a collection of photos showing over 4,500 firefighter tattoos. Each tattoo photo contains a link to the bio of the firefighter who has the tattoo.

If you are thinking about getting inked, I highly recommend checking out some of these amazing tattoos. The site allows firefighters to post their tattoos and members can to vote on some of the best new tattoos.

Aurora Fire Chief Receives CFA Designation

2010-07-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

Mike Garcia, the city’s fire chief, achieved professional accreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation’s International Chief Fire Officer Designation Program on June 2. The program was created to recognize fire officers who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement throughout their career.

Achieving the designation requires having a strong educational background, diverse participation in emergency services at the local, state and national level, and demonstrated involvement in the broader community — all validated by emergency services colleagues. The Aurora Fire Department has been awarded the Accredited Agency status in 2000 and reaccreditation in 2005 and in 2010.

Source: Aurora Sentinel > Archives > News > Metro Aurora > Aurora fire chief receives CFA designation

The Sims 3 Ambitions - firefighter career

2010-07-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy and have not even looked at the Sims2 in ages. I was glad to see the the people at EA finally let users in the Sims 3 be able to become a firefighter in the game. I have not played it yet, but here is a look at the job in a video from SimPrograms.

Kick Ass Firefighter Video.Installment 2

2010-05-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a nice fire video for you all. It posted on my Twitter feed via http://www.jimthetrucker.com . Send a shout out to firefghter19 who posted the video on YouTube. Enjoy!

Hawaii Fire Department Earns Accreditation

2010-04-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Navy just announced last week that Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH)Federal Fire Department (FFD) was presented with an accreditation plaque at the CNRH FFD headquarters building on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The plaque was presented to the CNRH FFD for being recognized as an accredited agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

According to navy.mil, "The accreditation was awarded to CNRH FFD for demonstrating that all 298 performance indicators, 84 core competencies and applicable criteria had been met and received a credible rating."

There are more than 250 personnel assigned to CNRH FFD. CNRH FFD is one of only three Navy fire departments and one of 16 Department of Defense fire departments that have received accreditation.