At first glance, it looks like a tractor trailer. But inside, firefighters can experience an explosion, cave-in, smoke and fire in a variety of conditions, simulated in a controlled and safe environment.
Move over Optimus Prime.
It’s an advanced mobile fire training simulator and one is coming to the Smithfield Fire Department thanks to a $248,000 federal grant.
U.S. Sens Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse along with Congressman David Cicilline announced Sunday that the department was awarded the grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program to the benefit of several fire departments in northern Rhode Island.
Fire Departments in Smithfield, North Smithfield, Cumberland, Woonsocket and the Albion Fire District will utilize the simulator for specialized training in more than 200 possible disaster scenarios.
The districts are all members of the the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association, which helps coordinate mutual aid runs, plans joint training drills, and responds to firefighter and EMS safety concerns. Together the departments identified a need to provide specialized training to help their firefighters master all the skills they are required to maintain while servicing the diverse communities of northern Rhode Island. The AFG grant will allow the group to purchase a mobile training simulator unit that is easily transported to each of the participating departments, according to a news release from Reed’s office.