Digital Combustion
Digital Combustion develops Fire Studio, a proprietary fire simulation software platform that enables fire departments, military, and industrial responders to build and run ultra-realistic incident command training scenarios using local structure photos and drag-and-drop animation layers, sold via perpetual licenses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersHuntington Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Digital Combustion does
Digital Combustion is a privately held software company that develops and sells Fire Studio, a fire simulation platform used by first responders for incident command and tactical training. Founded in 1998 by two Southern California firefighters — Rich Merritt (President) and Doug Prochnow (Co-founder) — each with 30 years of fire service experience, the company is headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee, and operates with 11-50 employees. The core product, Fire Studio 7, is a proprietary simulation platform built on a DirectX 12 graphics engine that enables users to import photos of local structures and overlay realistic fire, smoke, hazmat, and EMS animation layers via a drag-and-drop interface requiring no programming. Fire Studio 7 is sold in an Instructor Edition ($1,625) and Player Edition ($395/device), with supporting products including CommLink 7 ($1,795) for LAN-based multi-screen command training, SimPack 1/2 ($99 each) and SimPack Pro 3 ($199-$249) pre-made simulation content bundles, plus live online ($175) and in-person ($550) training services.
The company's business model is built on perpetual one-time software licensing rather than subscriptions, sold directly through an online store (FastSpring), phone sales (1-800-884-8821), and purchase order processing for government and enterprise buyers. Customers include municipal fire departments (primary segment), military fire services, fire service colleges and academies, and industrial/commercial fire protection buyers — including nuclear power plants — across a worldwide footprint. Distribution is direct-to-customer with no channel partners; marketing relies on an active blog, video library, conference participation (FDIC, Fire Rescue International), certified training workshops, and quote-based enterprise sales. Named reference customers include the Wichita Fire Department, Blue Card Command (a fire service training provider), and Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
Digital Combustion has remained bootstrapped and founder-owned throughout its 26+ years of operation, with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investors. The company has transitioned its technology through multiple generations — from laser-disc-based simulations in 1998, to PC-based Fire Studio software in the 2000s, to the current DirectX 12-powered Fire Studio 7 released in 2023 — and continues to release content updates such as SimPack Pro 3 in January 2025. The firm is exploring adding a subscription-based pricing option alongside its existing perpetual license model.
Digital Combustion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Combustion
- Legal name
- Digital Combustion, Inc.
- Website
- https://digitalcombustion.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Digital Combustion develops Fire Studio, a proprietary fire simulation software platform that enables fire departments, military, and industrial responders to build and run ultra-realistic incident command training scenarios using local structure photos and drag-and-drop animation layers, sold via perpetual licenses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Combustion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fire Simulation Training Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- Firefighter & Fire Service Training (EDAOAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Safety, Compliance & Risk Training Simulations (EHS, OSHA, Hazard Response) (EDAFAJAD), Emergency Management, Disaster Response & Incident Command Training (EDAOAMAD), Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)
Keywords
Where Digital Combustion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huntington Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Combustion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software License Sales: Perpetual one-time software licenses sold per computer. Fire Studio 7 Instructor Edition ($1,625) and Player Edition ($395) are purchased with a single payment and owned forever with no subscription required. Licenses are managed through customer portal.
- CommLink Network Control Module: Optional network control software ($1,795) for multi-screen command training center setups. Also available as upgrade for $750.
- Pre-Made Simulation Packs: SimPack 1 and 2 ($99 each) contain 20 single-view simulations each. SimPack Pro 3 ($249 intro $199) contains 8 advanced multi-view simulations for Fire Studio 7.
- Training Services: 2-hour online one-on-one essentials training ($175), additional advanced sessions, and 2-day in-person workshops ($550) taught by certified instructors.
- Upgrade Pricing: Discounted upgrade pricing for existing customers: Fire Studio 6 users $675, Version 1-5 users $875. Loyalty discounts based on tenure with the company.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Fire Studio 7 Instructor Edition - $1,625 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Fire Studio 7 Player Edition - $395 per device |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | CommLink 7 Network Control - $1,795 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SimPack 1 and 2 - $99 each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SimPack Pro 3 - $249 (Introductory $199) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Upgrade from Fire Studio 6 - $675 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 2-Hour Online One-on-One Training - $175 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 2-Day In-Person Workshop - $550 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Digital Combustion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Combustion develops and sells Fire Studio 7, a proprietary fire and emergency-response simulation software that lets fire departments, military units, colleges, and industrial fire brigades import photos of local structures and overlay realistic fire, smoke, hazmat, EMS, and active-shooter animation layers to create repeatable incident-command training scenarios. The company also offers pre-made simulation packs (SimPacks), the CommLink network control module for multi-screen command training centers, and certified instructor-led training services, all sold on a perpetual (non-subscription) license model.
Product overview
Digital Combustion offers Fire Studio 7 as its core fire simulation software platform for first responder training. The product line consists of two main editions: the Instructor Edition ($1,625) for creating and playing simulations, and the Player Edition ($395/device) for playback-only use across Windows, Mac, and iPad. Supporting products include SimPack 1 and 2 pre-made simulation bundles ($99 each with 20 scenarios each), SimPack Pro 3 ($199-$249) featuring 8 advanced multi-view simulations, and CommLink 7 ($1,795) for network-controlled multi-screen command training center setups. Training is available through online courses starting at $175 for 2-hour sessions and in-person workshops at $550 for 2-day classes. All software operates on a perpetual license model with no subscription fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fire Studio: Ultra-realistic fire simulator software for first responders, designed to produce simulations including fire incidents, hazardous material situations, and emergency scenarios. Available in Instructor and Player editions.
- CommLink
- SimPack
- SimPack Pro 3
Products and services
- Fire Studio 7 Instructor Edition Flagship fire simulation software enabling fire service instructors to create and play back custom emergency-response simulations using photos from their jurisdiction. Drag-and-drop layer system for fire, smoke, hazmat, EMS, and active-shooter scenarios; runs on Windows, Mac, and iPad. Sold as a $1,625 perpetual license per computer.
- Fire Studio 7 Player Edition Playback-only edition for running simulations authored in the Instructor Edition, designed for multi-screen and multi-station training setups. Available for Windows, Mac, and iPad at $395 per device on a perpetual license.
- SimPack 1 Pre-made simulation pack containing 20 single-view fire and emergency-response scenarios for immediate classroom use, sold at $99 as a perpetual download.
- SimPack 2 Additional pre-made simulation pack with 20 single-view scenarios covering wildland fires, traffic collisions, hazmat incidents, and structural fires; sold at $99 as a perpetual download.
- Simulation Pack Pro 3 Advanced pre-made simulation package for Fire Studio 7 containing 8 professional-grade multi-view simulations with multiple incident phases and new smoke and fire layers; sold on a one-time purchase ($199 introductory, $249 regular).
- CommLink 7 Network Control Module Network control software that lets one operator drive 1 to 50+ Fire Studio instances over a Local Area Network, synchronizing multiple screens for command training centers; sold as a $1,795 perpetual license ($750 upgrade from prior versions).
- Fire Studio Online Training Live 2-hour one-on-one online training session with a certified Fire Studio instructor, covering simulation creation, custom backgrounds, and keyboard-triggered events; $175 per session.
- Fire Studio Classroom Training 2-day in-person workshop taught by a certified Fire Studio Master Instructor, including course materials and over 7GB of clipart images, animated layers, sound files, and sample simulations; $550 per attendee.
Quantifiable outcome
- Training officers report losing simulation programs when software subscriptions expired - Fire Studio's perpetual licensing prevents this
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Combustion
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Digital Combustion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Digital Combustion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Digital Combustion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FLAIM Systems: Australian VR-first training company serving fire, EMS, and military first responders. FLAIM is a direct competitor as it provides immersive simulation training for the same customer base, although using VR hardware rather than 2D/3D screens.
- XVR Simulation: Dutch-based virtual reality incident command training platform used by fire services globally. Competes directly with Digital Combustion for the same incident command and tactical decision-making training budgets.
- Ti Training: Provides simulation-based training systems for law enforcement, public safety, and military markets. Ti Training offers comparable use-of-force and tactical simulation products to the same first-responder buyer.
- Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ADMS): ETC's Advanced Disaster Management Simulator (ADMS) is a well-known incident command and emergency response training platform used by fire services and military. It directly competes with Fire Studio in the same all-hazard simulation category.
Broad incumbents
- Vector Solutions (TargetSolutions): Vector Solutions (which acquired TargetSolutions) is a broad training-management platform serving fire, EMS, and law enforcement with online compliance courses. It overlaps with Fire Studio on the training buyer but focuses on online curriculum, not incident simulation.
Emerging players
- SimIS: SimIS provides simulation-based training for emergency management, public safety, and military customers. It overlaps with Fire Studio's all-hazard / incident command use cases at the federal and defense level.
- IES Interactive Training: Provides VR/3D safety and emergency training content for hazardous environments including industrial fire and hazmat scenarios. Comparable to Fire Studio's industrial hazmat and all-hazard simulation use cases.
- BullEx: BullEx offers digital fire extinguisher training and virtual fire training systems. While more focused on initial attack/extinguisher training, BullEx is adjacent in the fire training simulation market and competes for similar departmental budgets.
Others
- Praetorian Digital (PoliceOne / FireRescue1): Praetorian Digital operates industry media and training resources (PoliceOne, FireRescue1) targeting the same fire service audience. While not a direct simulation competitor, it shapes purchasing decisions and represents an ecosystem player for the same buyers.
Regional players
- SafetySkills: Online safety and compliance training platform focused on EHS / OSHA topics. While more compliance-oriented, it competes for industrial safety training budgets that include fire brigade programs similar to Susquehanna Steam Electric Station's use case.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Digital Combustion social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Combustion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Combustion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Digital Combustion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Combustion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Digital Combustion
What does Digital Combustion do?
Digital Combustion develops and sells Fire Studio 7, a proprietary fire and emergency-response simulation software that lets fire departments, military units, colleges, and industrial fire brigades import photos of local structures and overlay realistic fire, smoke, hazmat, EMS, and active-shooter animation layers to create repeatable incident-command training scenarios. The company also offers pre-made simulation packs (SimPacks), the CommLink network control module for multi-screen command training centers, and certified instructor-led training services, all sold on a perpetual (non-subscription) license model.
Is Digital Combustion a public or private company?
Digital Combustion is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Digital Combustion founded?
Digital Combustion was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Digital Combustion based?
Digital Combustion is headquartered in Huntington Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Combustion make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Software License Sales are the primary driver. The others are commLink Network Control Module, pre-Made Simulation Packs, training Services and upgrade Pricing.
Who are Digital Combustion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FLAIM Systems, XVR Simulation, Ti Training and Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ADMS). Vector Solutions (TargetSolutions) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are SimIS, IES Interactive Training and BullEx. Praetorian Digital (PoliceOne / FireRescue1) is listed as an others. SafetySkills is listed as a regional player.
Does Digital Combustion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Combustion.
What industry is Digital Combustion in?
Digital Combustion's product category is Fire Simulation Training Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAMAB, Firefighter & Fire Service Training, with a secondary code of EDAFAJAD, Safety, Compliance & Risk Training Simulations (EHS, OSHA, Hazard Response).