The Lombard Fire Department has partnered with eleven DuPage County Fire agencies to provide Emergency Responders with additional training to safely operate emergency vehicles with the use of a virtual reality driving simulator.
These twelve DuPage County fire agencies will house and utilize the simulator on a one month rotation throughout the year. These agencies include Addison, Bensenville, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glenside, Itasca, Lombard, Oak Brook Terrace, Streamwood, Villa Park, Wood Dale, and York Center. The Village of Lombard will utilize the driving simulator through the month of November. The driving simulator is designed to provide users the opportunity to practice multiple driving skills in a large number of scenarios in the safety of a virtual simulator.
“Providing our department with top level vehicle operation training is of utmost importance and simulation training allows our firefighters to prepare for a variety of situations,” said Lombard Fire Chief Rick Sander. “Our top priority is providing our personnel and residents with the highest level of safety possible. This simulator allows our firefighters to gain hands on experience with fire vehicle operations, without putting themselves or anyone else at risk. We’re very grateful to have this opportunity.”
This regional program was funded through a Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant awarded to The Addison Fire Protection District by The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For more information please feel free to contact Communications Coordinator Avis Meade at meadea@villageoflombard.org or (630)620-5818.