Firecall is a CD-ROM that was developed as part of fire fighting course delivered via distance to Open Training and Education (OTEN) students. The students covered a large amount of content related to equipment and operating procedures of the Early Warning Intercommunication System (EWIS). Students participated in face-to-face practical workshops but needed more practice to develop their skills in the use of the EWIS panel.

As Instructional Designer, I consulted closely with fire fighting teachers and NSW Fire Brigades officers to determine the appropriate operations and protocols associated with the EWIS system, then worked closely with a Programmer and Screen Designer to determine the most cost effective and educationally appropriate approach. We decided on an immersive approach, using many of the sirens and alarms to simulate a real situation. The script development led to a number of prototypes, with the final CD-ROM featuring a range of scenarios. The final CD-ROM was distributed to OTEN students as part of their course. NSW Fire Brigades purchased additional copies for use in their professional development program for every fire station in NSW.