Clarington Emergency & Fire Services (CEFS) is launching a new fire safety education initiative, thanks to the $25,000 grant from Hydro One's 2025 Energizing Life Community Fund. The funding will support the development of immersive virtual reality (VR) training tools that will help residents understand and respond to household fire risks.
In partnership with Durham College's Mixed Reality Capture (MRC) Studio, CEFS will begin developing the simulations this year. The interactive experiences will be piloted with the community in 2026, offering residents a hands-on way to explore fire safety topics and emergency decision-making. Durham College students will also benefit from the project, gaining hands-on experience in emerging technologies while contributing to a meaningful public safety initiative.
"Using new VR tech to teach fire safety, residents can virtually experience the start of a fire and learn how to prevent it with Clarington firefighters. We're talking about launching immersive, cutting-edge fire safety education that shows how quickly fires can spread and how working smoke alarms save lives, particularly at night. Thanks to Hydro One's generous funding and the ingenuity of Durham College's MRC Studio, we're helping folks make safer choices and protect their families," said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.
The Municipality of Clarington is actively pursuing valuable external funding opportunities, reducing dependency on the property tax base while supporting the delivery of meaningful municipal services. Clarington is grateful for this valuable support from Hydro One, which will help bring modern, life-saving fire prevention tools to the community.
"It's inspiring to see Municipality of Clarington improve people's well-being by fostering meaningful connections and providing essential resources," said Bronwen Evans, Vice President, Sustainability, Communications and Marketing, Hydro One. "Our 2025 recipients are powerful agents of local change, and we are excited to partner with them through our Energizing Life Community Fund. Congratulations to Clarington and thank you for your dedication to building a better and brighter future."
Once complete, the simulations will be used at public events and outreach sessions to enhance CEFS's ongoing fire prevention efforts. To learn more about Clarington Emergency & Fire Services, visit www.clarington.net/EFS.