How to build realistic command simulations

Some of the hardest fires you’ll ever command are ones you can’t safely recreate for real. A well-built simulation is the closest most firefighters will get. Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Captain Mark Killion explains how to build command simulations that hold up: Stagger unit arrivals using real response data, tie fire behavior to the clock, script the radio traffic with multiple voices, and build every scenario around structures in your first-due. Get it wrong and you risk creating a “training scar.” Get the culture right — no “gotcha” — and officers can actually learn from it. Killion and Zam offer practical steps for taking your sims beyond the size-up. Read next: Incident command simulations: Inside one department’s process Command resources: Get more command-focused training at FireRescue1’s Fire Command Ready series This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. Learn more about incident command in FireRescue1’s Fire Command Ready series. Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.