DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Being a firefighter is one of the most dangerous professions, but Delray Beach is looking to invest in a new technology to train crews without putting them in harm’s way.
The program, called the ATTACK Digital Fire Training System, allows for firefighters to train for a variety of fire situations and conditions while staying in a safe environment.
The department has been training on the fire simulator and hope to buy several more of them.
"It allows us to simulate a real-life fire without lighting a fire inside the fire station," said training division Chief Jim Bradford.
Bradford said the simulator creates realistic situations from the type of structure burning to the amount of smoke in the room.
"The machine recognizes the water is being put on the fire, and it starts to pump out smoke to simulate the same conditions you would see," said Bradford.
One thing the simulator provides is safety, which Bradford says is key for training.
"It gives us so many more reps, and those reps are key to fight a fire safely and effectively," said Bradford.
The simulator can even be linked with multiple devices.
The Delray Beach Fire Department hopes to purchases several of these through the help of a grant.
Bradford said this new technology will help all of their firefighters be better at responding to emergencies.
"This technology allows us to train and in a way so we are prepared, so anytime someone calls 911, we are on top of our game," said Bradford.
