Flash Point: Fire Rescue
Cooperative board game about rescuing victims from a burning building.
Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a cooperative board game where players take on the roles of firefighters, working together to save people and animals from a burning structure before it collapses. Designed by Kevin Lanzing with input from actual firefighters, the game was released in November 2011. At its simplest "family" level, players can move, extinguish fires, cut through walls, and rescue victims. More advanced play introduces specialized roles like the fire captain, engine operator, hazmat technician, and paramedic. The game's design was influenced by *Pandemic*.
The game was funded through a Kickstarter campaign that ended on August 18, 2011, raising over ten times its $5,000 goal from nearly 900 backers. The funds covered artwork, product safety testing, and the first print run. Since its release, seven major expansions have been published, each adding new scenarios and mechanics.
The **Urban Structures** expansion, initially a Kickstarter exclusive in 2011, was later re-released commercially after a second Kickstarter. It adds two maps: Brownstone, a duplex apartment, and High Rise, an office building with elevators, light walls, and reinforced walls. It also includes a Structural Engineer specialist who can clear hot spots and repair damaged walls.
**2nd Story**, released in 2012, includes two two-story buildings (Villa and Hotel) and introduces portable ladders, staircases, and windows. It also comes with physical AP trackers and an explosion marker.
**Extreme Danger**, funded via Kickstarter in 2013, adds two maps: a two-story Laboratory and a one-story Mechanic's Garage. Both can be combined with an add-on board featuring a Basement or Attic, which also works with *2nd Story*. A 12-sided die is included for the larger play area. This expansion adds portable ladders, staircases, windows, damaged floors, fire doors that can jam when hit by an explosion, and dangerous objects that may explode or create a chemical spill. It also includes a Hydraulic Platform that can replace the Deck Gun. The expansion comes in its own box with firefighter miniatures on colored bases. Kickstarter backers received an exclusive bonus pack with different victims and locked doors, not available in retail.
The **Veteran and Rescue Dog** expansion was a Kickstarter exclusive with *Extreme Danger* but later released to retail.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Flash Point: Fire Rescue
- Designer
- Kevin Lanzing
- Publisher
- 999 Games / Hobby Japan / Indie Boards and Cards / MINDOK
- Players
- 1 to 6
- Ages
- 10 and up
- Playing Time
- 45 minutes
- Random Chance
- Medium (dice rolling)
- Date
- 2011-11-21
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Flash Point: Fire Rescue was developed with the help of firefighters and crowdfunded through a Kickstarter campaign that ended on August 18, 2011, with nearly 900 backers and pledges exceeding the $5,000 goal by more than an order of magnitude. The funds covered artwork, product safety tests, and the first print run. The game's design owes a lot to Pandemic.
At the simplest family level, players can move, put out fires, cut through walls, and rescue victims. Higher levels introduce specialized roles such as fire captain, engine operator, hazmat technicians, and paramedics. Since the initial release, seven major expansions have been published, including Urban Structures, 2nd Story, Extreme Danger, Veteran and Rescue Dog, Dangerous Waters, Honor & Duty, and Tragic Events.
Expansions add scenarios such as fires in a high rise building, a two-story house, and
Reader's Guide
Flash Point: Fire Rescue is significant as a cooperative board game that emphasizes teamwork and strategic firefighting, drawing inspiration from Pandemic. Its development via Kickstarter demonstrated the viability of crowdfunding for board games, raising over ten times its goal. The game's expansions have steadily added variety, including unique maps like a submarine and high-rise, and new mechanics such as portable ladders, fire doors, and event cards. The inclusion of firefighter input during design lends authenticity to the theme. The game's legacy includes a dedicated fan base and continued support through expansions, with the latest, Tragic Events, released in 2017 as a Kickstarter exclusive. Its cooperative nature and escalating tension have made it a staple in the genre, influencing later cooperative games. The game's multiple expansions allow for high replayability, and the specialized roles add depth for experienced players.
Did You Know?
- The game was designed with the help of firefighters.
- The initial Kickstarter campaign raised more than ten times its $5,000 goal.
- The Urban Structures expansion was initially a Kickstarter exclusive before being re-released commercially.
- The Tragic Events expansion remains a Kickstarter-exclusive release.
More in Cooperative board games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced