The University of Cincinnati announced on Apr. 27 the launch of Fire Escape, a new video game developed to teach children about fire safety through interactive play. The game is now available for public use at the Cincinnati Fire Museum.
Fire Escape aims to help young players practice critical decision-making in simulated house fire scenarios, addressing common misconceptions and teaching life-saving skills. The project was led by D’Arcy Smith, director of the UC Digital Performance Lab, who collaborated with UC Information Technology student Tyler McCall, teams across the university, and local firefighters.
Smith said he was inspired to create the game after visiting the museum with his children and noticing a lack of engaging activities for their age group. He worked with McCall and others to design an experience that challenges players to think quickly during emergencies. “It’s very common for people to think that hiding in the bathtub or covering the face with a damp washcloth will keep them safe from the fire,” McCall said. “But the firefighters we worked closely with assured us that the smoke is much more dangerous, which the bathtub and washcloths will not protect you from. These misconceptions become teachable moments in the game, where we can show the player directly what they should be doing.”
The development involved contributions from various university departments including Digital Futures AR/VR Lab and testing support from 1819 Innovation Hub Esports Lab. Interim Vice President for Research Frank Gerner said: “Digital Futures, together with the 1819 Innovation Hub, is intended to be a nexus for fostering vibrant interdisciplinary research and innovation. Projects like Fire Escape are exactly that, bringing groups from different colleges and departments together to solve real-world problems.”
The UC Office of Tech Transfer & Commercialization played a role in expanding Fire Escape’s reach beyond campus by assisting with copyright protection and licensing—the first time it has licensed a video game project rather than scientific discoveries or inventions. Patrick Brown, Director of Commercialization at Tech Transfer said: “This is pretty new territory for our office… We would love to see more creative projects like this come through because they reveal the different kinds of innovation happening at UC.”
Following its debut at Cincinnati Fire Museum—and amid growing media attention—discussions are underway about expanding Fire Escape into additional museums nationwide as part of ongoing efforts to promote fire safety education among K-12 students and adults alike.
For Smith, making an impact remains central: “At the end of the day, if we can save a life and have a little bit of fun at the same time, that would be a great thing.”
