I am interested in what vendors Command Training Centers utilize to purchase scale infrastructure including vehicles, emergency vehicles, buildings, etc.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

You can find a lot of scale models of buildings, landscapes and a variety of vehicles at hobby stores that carry trains.

Don Abbott does a lot of tabletop simulation stuff. I'll pass your question on to him.  

And hes a native hoosier.....

Why table top scenario's???

 I know what Chief Don Abbott (Ret.) did with simulations before the computer age was exceptional, but isn't it out date today?  You can run real life/time fire scenario's with a basic fire simulator programs, put it on the "big screen", and have an excellent training.  If you add powerpoint to the mix you can design street layout, building layout, etc. and have real life scenario's.  The best thing about these programs is that you can add digital phots taken of buildings from you districts.  If you design a street layout for apparatus placement scenario's, base it off you districts streets.  These programs are easy to use and easy to obtain.  I am not computer savvy my self, but I run these real life/time scenario's for my department frequently. 

I am familiar with "Abbottvile", but didn't Don Abbott sell the rights to "Abbottville".  I beleive Chief Abbott runs Phoenix's CTC.  I also beleive that this CTC is computer based simulations.

Computer based simulations work well for simulating, fire problems (check out examples under the fire problem link) and general firefighter training. The best applications I've seen for tabletops is to recreate an incident and to conduct training with multiple agencies. Each training medium has it's own strengths and shortcomings. The real value in all of it is the conversation and discussion it creates after the simulation. This is where all the incident players get agree on the best way they will conduct incident operations. In the end, all good training methods lead to this discussion.

Chief Abbott did sell the rights to Abbottville to Command School in PA. They beat the thing into the ground by overbooking and not paying the instructors, not the way to run a business. I taught for them and Don taught us how to us Abbottville, we were not as good as him though. I can see the value of both tabletop and computer. I run the CTC for our department and we use an aerial photo from our GIS division to do apparatus placement and then go into the computer lab to do the simulations.

 

Joe Stapp

Fire Training Officer

Overland Park Fire Department

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Joseph M. Stapp Sr.
Fire Training Officer
Overland Park Fire Department

Don't train until you get it right, training until you can't get it wrong

Just to clear the air on Command School, the business in question was pre 2003. Brian Long called me and advised he now owns Command School and the rights to Abbottville and I wish him the best of luck with the venture. I have not had any dealing with the new company, nor the owner other than a phone call advising me that he was not the same company from the past.

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Joseph M. Stapp Sr.
Fire Training Officer
Overland Park Fire Department

Don't train until you get it right, training until you can't get it wrong