Oklahoma State University’s Fire Service Training is expanding its ability to provide firefighters across Oklahoma with realistic, hands-on training through the purchase of a new Mobile Live Fire Flashover Simulator.

The simulator, purchased with funding from a Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant, will be used for FST’s Advanced Fire Behavior course. The mobile unit allows instructors to bring critical training directly to fire departments and firefighters throughout the state.

The new simulator replaces the mobile capabilities of FST’s previous unit, which is 18 years old. While instructors continue to use the burn box from the original simulator at the training center, the unit’s mobile component had deteriorated beyond repair, limiting FST’s ability to offer the experience at locations across Oklahoma.

With the new simulator, FST’s capability for this type of statewide training returns.

The Mobile Live Fire Flashover Simulator provides firefighters with a controlled environment to experience and better understand one of the most dangerous events they may encounter on the fireground.

A flashover can occur when a fire in an enclosed space, such as a bedroom or living room, generates enough heat to ignite nearly all exposed combustible materials simultaneously. As a fire develops, hot gases collect near the ceiling and radiate heat downward, increasing the temperature of furniture and other materials throughout the room. Once conditions reach a critical point, widespread ignition can occur.

“Within seconds of flashover, a room can become fully involved in fire, creating conditions that can be unsurvivable without appropriate protective equipment and training,” said Justin Spence, FST Fire Program Manager.

“The simulator allows firefighters to experience the intense heat, smoke and rapidly changing conditions associated with flashover while learning to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately within a controlled training environment,” Spence said.

Although Advanced Fire Behavior training is not required for all firefighters, it provides valuable experience that can supplement the foundational training firefighters receive throughout their careers.

“By exposing firefighters to these extreme conditions before they encounter them during an emergency, the training can help build confidence, reinforce decision-making skills and improve their ability to operate safely and effectively in high-stress environments,” said Spence.

The new simulator also advances FST’s broader mission of serving Oklahoma’s fire service community by making specialized training more accessible to departments across the state, including those that may not have the resources or facilities to conduct this type of live-fire training locally.

“Our mission is to deliver accessible, high-quality training that helps Oklahoma’s fire service protect their communities and return home safely,” said Tara Youngblood, interim director of FST. “This mobile simulator brings realistic, advanced training directly to departments across the state, giving firefighters the opportunity to recognize dangerous fire behavior, strengthen critical decision-making skills and prepare for the extreme conditions they may face in an emergency."

FST's Mobile Live Fire Flashover Simulator