162654 20251017144654.0 doi 10.3390/fire8080286 sideral 145152 ART-2025-145152 eng Ubieto-Artur, Pedro Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-9168-5364 Promoting Domestic Fire-Safety: Virtual Drills as a Training Tool for Citizens 2025 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Promoting domestic fire safety is crucial for preventing and effectively managing risky situations. This study evaluated the effectiveness of virtual environments (VEs) in fire drills to improve citizens’ knowledge and safe behavior in domestic settings. Conducted at the Citizen School for Risk Prevention (CSRP) in Zaragoza (Spain), the experiment involved 20 participants facing a simulated kitchen fire using a combination of physical and virtual extinguishing equipment. A theoretical session accompanied the drills to reinforce learning. Participants were divided into two groups: one completed the drill before and after the theoretical session, while the other completed it only afterward. Performance was assessed based on the ability to extinguish, control, or lose control of the fire. Surveys administered before, immediately after, and three months after training measured knowledge retention and behavioral changes. The results indicate a significant improvement in fire safety awareness and lasting adoption of safe practices. Participants also emerged as safety advocates. This study highlights the potential of combining theoretical instruction with immersive practical training and identifies strategies for replicating this approach in other prevention schools. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/T7-23D info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Asión-Suñer, Laura Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-5654-9308 García-Hernández, César Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-2729-8957 5002 305 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri. Área Expresión Gráfica en Ing. 8, 8 (2025), 286 [16 pp.] Fire Fire (Basel) 2571-6255 1100572 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162654/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2432919 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162654/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:162654 articulos driver 2025-10-17-14:37:39 ARTICLE