L.N. Curtis & Sons

What L.N. Curtis & Sons does

L.N. Curtis & Sons is a family-owned, California-headquartered distributor of firefighting and emergency-response equipment, founded in 1929 and operating across the Western United States. The company runs a multi-brand catalog spanning wildland and structural PPE, helmets, boots, water-flow systems, SCBA, rescue tools, lighting, apparel, and uniforms from manufacturers including Globe, Bullard, MSA/Cairns, CMC, Task Force Tips, Danner, Mystery Ranch, WATERAX, CrewBoss, PGI, Workrite, FireCraft, INNOTEX, Hurst, and Coaxsher. Distribution is delivered through an e-commerce storefront, six physical service locations across 13 Western states, a federal/municipal Agency Account Program with special contract pricing, and shipping to all 50 states.

The underlying technical platform is a BigCommerce-based e-commerce site (lncurtis.com) layered with two proprietary software assets: Curtis EDGE, an online PPE asset-management system that tracks maintenance, inspection results, and pre-asset funding against NFPA 1850 record-keeping guidelines, and Curtis+, a membership program with annual recurring billing. The service backbone is an NFPA 1850-verified Independent Service Provider (ISP) network — third-party verified by Intertek ETL — employing 20+ factory-trained technicians who perform PPE cleaning, inspection, repair, alteration, SCBA service, and hydro testing across the six locations.

Curtis monetizes across four revenue streams: (1) one-time product sales via e-commerce and retail; (2) multi-year Agency Account contracts with municipal fire departments and U.S. federal agencies (U.S. Air Force, DoD, DoE, DoI, DoJ, DHS, DoS); (3) recurring Curtis+ membership fees; and (4) service and repair revenue from the technician network. Customer segments are fire departments, wildland firefighters, federal government agencies, and individual firefighters, served through both enterprise field sales and direct-to-consumer motions. The legal entity is L.N. Curtis & sons, Inc., a privately held California corporation with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company.

Name

L.N. Curtis & Sons

Legal name

L.N. Curtis & sons, Inc.

Website

https://lncurtis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

L.N. Curtis & Sons is a family-owned distributor of firefighting PPE, equipment, and rescue tools serving municipal fire departments, U.S. federal agencies, and individual firefighters across 13 Western states from six service locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firefighting and Rescue Equipment Distribution

akta.pro primary industry

PPE, Safety & Infection Control Supplies Distribution (JanSan-adjacent) (CRAOAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Workwear & PPE Laundry (HSAJAEAD), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF)

Keywords

• Firefighting equipment
• Personal protective equipment
• Emergency responder gear
• Wildland firefighting supplies
• Fire department supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time sales of firefighting equipment, PPE, tools, and supplies through e-commerce and retail storefronts. Products range from turnout gear and helmets to water flow equipment and breathing apparatus.
2. Agency/Department Accounts: Special contract pricing programs for fire departments and government agencies, enabling bulk purchasing with negotiated rates.
3. Curtis+ Membership: Membership program offering exclusive savings, rewards, special offers, and member-only benefits designed for fire and rescue professionals.
4. Service & Repair: After-market care services including PPE cleaning, inspection, repairs, alterations, SCBA hydro testing, and equipment maintenance performed by factory-trained technicians.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

L.N. Curtis & Sons is a family-owned distributor and service provider of firefighting and rescue equipment, supplying personal protective equipment (PPE), turnout gear, helmets, boots, breathing apparatus, water flow systems, tools, and lights to fire departments, government agencies, and individual firefighters. The company also operates NFPA 1850-verified PPE cleaning, inspection, repair, and alteration services through six locations across the Western U.S., supported by the Curtis EDGE asset management system and a Curtis+ membership program.

Product overview

L.N. Curtis & Sons operates as a specialized firefighting equipment e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for firefighters and emergency responders. The company provides three interconnected offerings: (1) a broad catalog of firefighting PPE, apparel, footwear, helmets, water flow equipment, breathing apparatus, tools, lights, and specialty equipment from multiple branded manufacturers; (2) value-added services including PPE care and maintenance (NFPA 1850 verified ISP), the Curtis+ membership program, Curtis EDGE PPE asset management software, agency account pricing, and repair services; and (3) a deals section for discounted gear. The platform serves individual firefighters and fire departments across 13 Western states, with shipping to all 50 states and government agencies including the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Curtis+: Membership program offering exclusive savings, rewards, special offers, and member-only benefits for fire and rescue professionals

Products and services

• Wildland Firefighting Gear

Quantifiable outcome

• NFPA 1850 compliance verification for PPE maintenance

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GlobecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading firefighting PPE and footwear manufacturer; Curtis carries Globe turnout gear, boots, and apparel products
• BullardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFire service equipment manufacturer specializing in helmets, eye protection, and wildland gear; featured brand partner
• MSA (Mine Safety Appliances)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor SCBA and breathing apparatus manufacturer; featured brand with MSA + Curtis partnership; NFPA 1970 2025 certified MSA G1 SCBA XR Edition available
• CairnscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFire helmet manufacturer producing traditional and modern helmets; Curtis carries MSA Cairns branded helmets
• CMCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRescue and rope access equipment manufacturer; Curtis carries CMC rescue gear, litters, and patient packaging equipment
• Task Force Tips (TFT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWater flow equipment manufacturer producing nozzles, monitors, and valves; featured brand partner with exclusive offerings
• DannercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirefighter boot manufacturer producing structural, wildland, and station boots; featured brand partner
• Mystery RanchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium pack and bag manufacturer; Curtis carries wildland packs, web gear, and specialty bags for firefighters
• WATERAXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortable fire pump manufacturer; Curtis carries WATERAX pumps including MINI-STRIKER, MARK-3, and MINI-MARK models
• CrewBosscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWildland PPE manufacturer; Curtis carries CrewBoss wildland clothing, jumpsuits, and protective wear
• PGI (Performance Advantage Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirefighter apparel and wildland PPE; Curtis carries PGI Fireline products including shirts, jackets, and chainsaw chaps
• WorkritecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlame-resistant workwear manufacturer; Curtis carries Workrite base layers and station wear
• FireCraftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirefighter glove manufacturer; Curtis carries FireCraft Redline gloves as featured product
• INNOTEXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-function and technical rescue PPE manufacturer; Curtis carries INNOTEX Energy Prime and Tech Rescue product lines
• Hurst Jaws of LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRescue tools manufacturer; Curtis carries Hurst hydraulic rescue equipment for vehicle extrication and rescue operations
• CoaxshercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWildland apparel and web gear manufacturer; Curtis carries Coaxsher pants, shirts, and radio harness equipment

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TheFireStore: Direct e-commerce competitor selling firefighter turnout gear, boots, helmets, and rescue equipment to individuals and departments—overlaps Curtis's D2C channel and product catalog but without Curtis's Western U.S. service-center footprint.
• Municipal Emergency Services (MES): Direct competitor distributing firefighting PPE, equipment, and apparatus to municipal and federal fire/EMS agencies nationwide with agency contract programs and service capabilities similar to Curtis.
• Witmer Public Safety Group: Direct competitor distributing firefighting PPE, gear, boots, and equipment with multi-brand catalog, agency accounts, and service offerings that mirror Curtis's model across the Eastern U.S.

Broad incumbents

• Galls: Larger, public-safety-focused distributor offering uniforms, PPE, and equipment to law enforcement, fire, and EMS; broader portfolio than Curtis and overlaps heavily on firefighter apparel and boots.
• Grainger: Mass-market industrial MRO distributor with overlap into facility safety, PPE, and select fire/rescue gear; comparable in distribution scale and channel breadth but lacks Curtis's fire-service specialization.
• Bullard: Manufacturer of thermal imagers, helmets, and wildland PPE; comparable as a fire service category leader but operates upstream as a brand partner rather than a distribution peer.
• 5.11 Tactical: Broader public-safety and tactical apparel/gear brand serving law enforcement, military, and firefighters; overlaps on station wear, job shirts, and tactical pants but is primarily a manufacturer rather than a multi-brand fire service distributor.
• MSA Safety: Manufacturer of SCBA, helmets, and firefighter PPE that Curtis distributes (MSA G1, Cairns); comparable as a fire service authority but as the brand owner, not a peer distributor—illustrates both the partnership and disintermediation risk.

Others

• Task Force Tips (TFT): Manufacturer of nozzles, monitors, and water-flow equipment that Curtis distributes; not a distributor peer but a brand partner whose strategic decisions (direct sales, dealer consolidation) directly affect Curtis's economics.

Regional players

• NAFFCO International: Middle East-headquartered firefighting equipment manufacturer and distributor with a comparable fire service product portfolio; comparable in category but operates primarily outside the U.S. market where Curtis is anchored.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ToolsForHeroes
• Facebookfacebook.com/toolsforheroes

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about L.N. Curtis & Sons