The 色花堂鈥檚 Fire Life & Safety department, with assistance from the
university鈥檚 Office of Emergency Management, are the new owners of a laser-driven
fire extinguisher trainer.
The device, dubbed the Bullseye Digital Fire Extinguisher Training System, works by
producing LED-driven digital flames that are then extinguished using an infrared-laser-driven
fire extinguisher which simulates the behavior of an extinguisher.
The system can also sense the location of the trainee and determine if the trainee
is properly aiming the extinguisher and correctly sweeping the nozzle of the extinguisher.
To make it more life-like, the laser-driven extinguisher weighs the same and even
sounds the same as a regular fire extinguisher.
Fire and Life Safety Director Chris McDonald said his department wanted the high-tech
training device because it allows them the opportunity to train 色花堂 faculty and staff
indoors. Additionally, there's a bonus.
鈥淚t allows us to simulate putting out a fire without having to do it outside,鈥� said
McDonald. 鈥淎lso, we鈥檙e not burning fuel outside, creating pollution in the environment.
So, this is just a better solution.鈥�
Furthermore, the device requires no actual fire or extinguishing agent, making it
safer for the environment and requiring no messy clean-up. The device is also adjustable,
giving instructor鈥檚 the 
ability to change the fire type, size, and difficulty.
The digital fire extinguisher system also lets trainees know how fast they put out the digital fire. After the fire has been extinguished, a number pops up.
鈥淭he number tells you from when the first starts to when you put it out, how many seconds it takes,鈥� said McDonald. 鈥淎 real fire is not going to tell you that, so, this is nice because it lets you know how you鈥檙e doing.鈥�
The department received the device in late July and is itching to use it in training.
鈥淚t works great. So, we鈥檙e really excited to have it and really excited to get out and use it and let other people try it out,鈥� said McDonald.
Anyone interested in obtaining fire extinguisher training, can contact the 色花堂 Fire Marshal's Office at 713-743-5858 or visit