Learning Experience
Wildfire Board Game
A household wildfire | Think
A personalized wildfire experience in 15 minutes. Members of a household must think through their actions as they imagine evacuating and returning to a damaged neighborhood.
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Fire imagination
Our interactive board game spurs a household to imagine that their home is under threat from a wildfire, taking them from having to evacuate through coming home to a damaged neighborhood. Grounded in their real-life circumstances, players experience how the decisions they make before, during and after an actual fire can affect their options and well-being.
Specifications:
- 1 to 6 players
- 15 minute play time
- 1 facilitator
- Also offered in Spanish
Our interactive board game spurs a household to imagine that their home is under threat from a wildfire, taking them from having to evacuate through coming home to a damaged neighborhood. Grounded in their real-life circumstances, players experience how the decisions they make before, during and after an actual fire can affect their options and well-being.
Specifications:
- 1 to 6 players
- 15 minute play time
- 1 facilitator
- Also offered in Spanish
“This is great! I’m a retired firefighter, and it’s even making me think. I learned something!”
— Scott T. Parkhurst, retired firefighter, Wildfire Board Game, Healdsburg CA
An entire wildfire in 15 minutes
1
Who are we?
To start the game, players set up game pieces to represent their household and circumstances, providing a physical picture of who and what they will need to evacuate.
1
Who are we?
To start the game, players set up game pieces to represent their household and circumstances, providing a physical picture of who and what they will need to evacuate.
2
Ready and … go!
A spin of the Wheel of Fate determines the status of the fire, dictating the urgency of the situation. Players must decide what actions they will take (if any) to protect lives and home before evacuating.
2
Ready and … go!
A spin of the Wheel of Fate determines the status of the fire, dictating the urgency of the situation. Players must decide what actions they will take (if any) to protect lives and home before evacuating.
3
Evacuated!
More spins of the Wheel of Fate determine how long the evacuation lasts, prompting reflection on the realities of not being able to go home for an extended period.
3
Evacuated!
More spins of the Wheel of Fate determine how long the evacuation lasts, prompting reflection on the realities of not being able to go home for an extended period.
4
Coming home …
Players’ real-life preparations, in-game actions, and a final Wheel spin, determines how their home has fared. To win, players must ensure that their household is safe, and has what they need to restart their lives.
4
Coming home …
Players’ real-life preparations, in-game actions, and a final Wheel spin, determines how their home has fared. To win, players must ensure that their household is safe, and has what they need to restart their lives.
“As an adult, I love playing the game. It got my brain thinking in ways I wouldn’t think & process by listening to someone speak. So cool!”
— Participant, Wildfire Board Game, Lake Solano County Park CA
Learning objectives
Wildfire preparedness
- Assess real-life household needs and state of preparedness.
- Understand essential wildfire preparedness, including ember danger and the importance of Zone 0 protection, official emergency notifications, and early evacuation.
- Anticipate the possible challenges of returning to a damaged neighborhood, prioritizing safety, water, and food.
- Identify one immediate action, along with the motivation to complete it.
- Experience the uncertainty and unpredictability of wildfire behavior.
Inspire
Players engage in an imaginary wildfire, but make decisions in the very real context of their own household circumstances. This encourages them to focus on what is immediately relevant to them, set their own priorities, and inspires a desire to take one or more specific actions to improve their preparedness.
Educate
The game is designed around key elements of household wildfire preparedness and promotes best practices. Topics addressed include ember danger, defensible space, home hardening, evacuation planning, local alerts, and staying informed. Players get to validate what they know, discover gaps in their knowledge, and discuss their questions with an expert.
Educate
The game is designed around key elements of household wildfire preparedness and promotes best practices. Topics addressed include ember danger, defensible space, home hardening, evacuation planning, local alerts, and staying informed. Players get to validate what they know, discover gaps in their knowledge, and discuss their questions with an expert.
Empower
The game poses players with challenges and then gives them the freedom to choose their actions. As events unfold, they see the consequences of earlier decisions, discovering what control they have over the safety and comfort of their household in a wildfire. By the end of the game, players have thought through their own evacuation and recovery plan.
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From our blog
Fall 2024 Update: My, how time flies when you’re having fun!
Our Fall 2024 Update is out! Get the scoop on what’s been happening at Creative Crisis Leadership in the past nine months!
Our 2023 Annual Report is out!
We are excited to release our 2023 Annual Report, showcasing a year of innovation and growth. The report highlights …
“It’s been mobbed!”
Most disaster preparedness educators have a fantasy about people lining up to learn about disaster preparedness. It’s our reality. …
“Thank you so much for this opportunity! I’ve been in CERT for a long time and have awareness, but playing this game related to my personal home gave me much food for thought. The game reminds me in a fun way what I need to take care of and be prepared to deal with in the event of a fire.”
— Marie Shilling, Napa CERT, Wildfire Board Game, St. Helena CA