UNSW and Fire and Rescue NSW will demonstrate the AI fire training system
UNSW Sydney and Fire and Rescue NSW will demonstrate iFire 2.0 at AFAC26 in Melbourne on 18th August 2026. Visitors can see it from 1pm to 3pm at Stand 624 in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Organisers describe iFire 2.0 as the world’s first AI-driven scenario-modelling system for megafire preparation. It is built to help firefighters and communities prepare before extreme fire conditions hit.
IFire 2.0 combines artificial intelligence, immersive visualisation and advanced simulation. According to UNSW, the system is designed to strengthen emergency response capability and community resilience as fire seasons grow more extreme.
Building on iFire 1.0, which UNSW showcased earlier in 2026, the new version uses advanced machine learning trained on large fire-behaviour data sets. That model is designed to simulate fast-moving and unpredictable fires like those seen during Australia’s Black Summer and recent European fire seasons.
Inside the platform, users can move through simulated firegrounds and practise decisions under pressure. They can also adjust variables such as wind speed and temperature to generate extreme fire scenarios.
Scientia Professor Dennis Del Favero, director of the iCinema Research Centre at UNSW Sydney, said megafires can behave in ways that defy established expectations and response procedures.
“iFire 2.0 lets users rehearse their response to these unpredictable conditions in a safe, immersive environment,” Del Favero said.
As a result, the technology can support operational planning, incident management training, community preparedness and post-event review. UNSW says it is meant to complement established practical training with a safe, repeatable setting for uncertain and rapidly evolving fire conditions.
The iFire programme forms part of a five-year partnership between UNSW and Fire and Rescue NSW. Del Favero said the project shows how emergency services and academia can work together on next-generation capability for firefighters and communities.
Inspector Gonzalo Herrera
At AFAC26, media can film the immersive environment and see how AI-based scenario modelling is being integrated into emergency services training. They can also speak with Del Favero and Inspector Gonzalo Herrera from Fire and Rescue NSW.
Herrera brings 19 years of operational experience to the demonstration. He is also an Adjunct Fellow with the iCinema Research Centre, where he works on new immersive learning platforms.
Meanwhile, the demonstration will let visitors explore applications for wildfire preparedness, community resilience and incident management in one system. UNSW has also published iFire videos through its iCinema research pages and YouTube channels.
