Firescape: Igniting Awareness on Fire Management through VR

'Firescape' is an immersive educational VR game that thrusts players into the heat of fire management, presenting a practical and engaging way to learn about fire handling skills in the context of climate change. Set in a local park plagued by wildfires, players find themselves in the role of a quick-thinking citizen waiting for professional firefighting teams to arrive. The challenge is to manage and control the spread of five separate fires using the tools and resources available within the game's environment. An interactive map serves as the player's primary guide, offering valuable information about each fire's location. Additionally, the map provides key insights about various environmental factors, including wind direction and speed, air toxicity, temperature, humidity, and fuel availability. These factors all contribute to the behavior of the fire, creating an authentic and complex firefighting experience. Players must make strategic decisions on how to handle each fire. This includes choosing where to teleport on the map, determining which fires to prioritize based on their behavior and environmental conditions, and deciding how best to use the resources at hand. Not all tools will be helpful — some may even worsen the fire, mirroring the complexity and unpredictability of real-life fire scenarios. The educational value of 'Firescape' is immense. It teaches players about fire dynamics, safety measures, and the role of environmental factors in fire management. Additionally, it encourages strategic thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills. All these lessons are framed within the crucial context of climate change, bringing an urgent real-world issue to the forefront. Players are not expected to extinguish the fires completely – that task is reserved for the professional firefighters. The game is won if the arriving fire crew find less than 50% of the park affected by the fire. However, players must also manage their own safety; the game is lost if the player succumbs to the fire or if it consumes more than 50% of the park. In partnership with Horizon Europe, 'Firescape' has the potential to extend its reach, serving as a pioneer in practical, relevant, and engaging VR-based education. The game can be further refined, with more features and scenarios added, to enrich the learning experience. 'Firescape' invites players to step into the challenging role of a fire warden, raising awareness about the devastating impacts of wildfires and educating on the crucial steps individuals can take in these situations. Through 'Firescape', Horizon Europe has the opportunity to be part of a solution, educating a new generation on the challenges of climate change and the importance of individual action.