Thorne offers futuristic take on fire safety training

A Nelson fire and security company is offering a cutting-edge approach to fire safety training.

Thorne Fire & Security has introduced Virtual Reality (VR) technology to its customer training sessions and so far, it has been very well received.

The Lomeshaye-based company has invested a staggering £20,000 in a state-of-the-art VR headset and FLAIM Extinguisher prop to use in the sessions, which are being led by well-known local firefighter Wayne Dowell.

Hadrian Thorne, managing director of Thorne Fire & Security, said: “VR is without doubt the future of fire safety training. The technology is just incredible and has been specifically designed to provide immersive fire extinguisher training in diverse workplace environments. 

“Training typically covers common fire scenarios such as kitchens, offices, and industrial settings, but we can tailor the sessions to meet the needs of a variety of workplaces.”

On donning the VR headset, users are transported to various settings where they must quickly and effectively respond to imminent fire threats. 

Their reaction to the scenario is recorded in real-time so that they can quickly see if they have dealt with the fire effectively, or if they need to have a second attempt.

Wayne Dowell, a Burnley firefighter for almost 25 years, and former professional footballer, said: “This is nothing like I have ever seen before. It really elevates fire safety training from what has historically been a boring PowerPoint.

“I’ve led several sessions now and the users really enjoy it. It really does give them a good understanding of which extinguisher to use in different scenarios and how to point the hose so it puts out the blaze quickly and effectively.”

A fire safety marshal from Veka who attended one of the courses in June said: “I’ve done fire safety courses in previous years but nothing compares to Thorne’s VR experience. It felt very real and you had to think quickly to choose the right extinguisher and then put out the flames.”

Hadrian added: “So many of our customers must have up-to-date training on fire safety for them and their teams. Having an automated system which sends them their certificate at the end of the session and flags up when the certificate runs out is the perfect solution. 

“Plus, the VR training is engaging and fun, while effective in educating attendees as to the correct and safe way to tackle a fire should they need to.”

If you would like to find out more about Thorne’s virtual fire safety training, please contact the team at [email protected]