Emergency Support Service

What Emergency Support Service does

Emergency Support Service (ESS) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Randal Goodwin, a former Texas firefighter who suffered career-ending injuries in 1988. Headquartered in Cleburne, Texas, ESS provides incident rehabilitation services to fire departments and first responders operating in Johnson County. Its core offering is a mobile, on-call response capability that delivers hydration (water, sports drinks, coffee), quick-energy snacks, hand washing facilities, towels, cooling vests, medical evaluations, breathing apparatus refilling, and mental health support directly at emergency scenes. The organization operates as an NFPA-compliant Fire/Incident Rehab service available 24/7 in any weather.

ESS's distinguishing technical capability is a four-bottle cascade system introduced in 2002 that enables rapid on-scene refilling of breathing apparatus air cylinders, allowing firefighters to return to operations without leaving the incident. The service is delivered by a few dozen volunteers dispatched when called by local fire departments, with no payroll, no external investors, and no parent company. Beyond on-scene rehab, ESS sells 911 reflective address signs as a community fundraiser ($20 basic, $35 with installation), and in January 2024 began expanding its clinical capability by enrolling four members in EMT training at Briaroaks Fire Department.

Operationally, ESS is sustained by community donations, county support, and volunteer labor. Its customer base is concentrated entirely in Johnson County, with documented relationships with Briaroaks Fire Department, Burleson Fire Department, and the Johnson County Emergency Management office. The organization has no app, no software products, no API, and no digital revenue channel. Media coverage on GMA3 (January 2024) and WFAA (August 2023) has focused on the founder's story and the mission rather than on commercially significant product or expansion announcements.

Name

Emergency Support Service

Legal name

Emergency Support Service

Website

https://herosupporter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Emergency Support Service is a volunteer-based non-profit in Cleburne, Texas that provides mobile incident rehabilitation services — hydration, medical evaluations, breathing apparatus refilling, and mental health support — to Johnson County fire departments and first responders at emergency scenes, 24/7.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Response Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Ambulance Services (BPAIAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Behavioral Health & Psychosocial Support (HLAJAGAM), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Evacuation, Shelter, Mass Care & Family Reunification (HLAJAGAG), Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

Keywords

• Incident rehabilitation services
• First responder support
• Emergency scene rehabilitation
• Breathing apparatus refilling
• Volunteer fire support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleburne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Volunteer Support: ESS operates primarily on donations from the community and county support. The organization is always in need of volunteers and financial contributions to continue providing incident rehabilitation services to first responders.
2. 911 Reflective Address Signs: Sale and installation of reflective 911 address signs as a fundraiser. Basic addressed signs sold for $20, numbered signs with installation for $35.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Emergency Support Service is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that provides on-scene incident rehabilitation services to fire departments and first responders in Johnson County, Texas. Mobile units deploy to emergency scenes to deliver hydration, nutrition, medical evaluations, breathing apparatus refilling via a four-bottle cascade system, and mental health support, operating 24/7 in any weather and any scenario. The organization supplements its mission by selling and installing 911 reflective address signs as a community fundraiser.

Product overview

Emergency Support Service (ESS) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization founded in 1991 that provides incident rehabilitation services to Johnson County fire departments and first responders. The organization operates mobile units offering hydration, nutrition, medical evaluations, breathing apparatus refilling, and mental health support. ESS also sells 911 reflective address signs as a fundraiser to support operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Incident Rehabilitation Services Mobile rehabilitation units providing hydration (water, sports drinks, coffee), quick snacks, hand washing facilities, towels, cooling vests, and medical evaluations for firefighters and first responders operating at emergency scenes.
• Breathing Apparatus Refilling Service On-scene refilling of breathing apparatus using a four-bottle cascade system, enabling rapid air cylinder refill so firefighters can quickly return to operations.
• Mental Health Support Services Mental health services provided to first responders to address psychological well-being during and after emergency operations.
• 911 Reflective Address Signs Red rectangle reflective house address signs with white reflective numbers sold to help emergency responders locate homes and businesses. Basic addressed sign $20; numbered sign with installation $35.

Quantifiable outcome

• Responds 24 hours a day, in any weather and in any scenario

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GMA3minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 January 2024Television news program that featured ESS Chief Randal Goodwin and the organization's incident rehabilitation services, raising public awareness of the nonprofit's mission to support first responders.
• WFAAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 August 2023Dallas-Fort Worth television station that featured ESS Chief Randal Goodwin's story and the organization's work supporting Johnson County firefighters.
• Chisolm Trail 100 ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional organization that featured ESS in their 2022 calendar, recognizing the organization's service to Johnson County firefighters during winter emergency response.
• Briaroaks Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for ESS member EMT training program. Fire Chief Bryan Jamison has publicly praised ESS for rehabilitation services that enable his firefighters to return to emergency scenes safely.
• Johnson County Emergency ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJamie Moore, Johnson County Emergency Management Director, has recognized ESS Chief Randal Goodwin and the organization as critical to firefighter operations in the county.
• Parkland HealthminorOthersWhere ESS Chief Randal Goodwin received rehabilitation after his 1988 injury. The burn unit provided critical care that enabled his eventual return to service.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Volunteer Fire Council: National membership organization representing volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services, providing advocacy, training, and resources. Comparable in mission-adjacent support of volunteer firefighters, though operating at an advocacy/policy level rather than direct service delivery like ESS.
• Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation: Large nonprofit funded by Firehouse Subs restaurant chain donations that provides equipment, training, and grants to first responders and public safety organizations across the US. Comparable as a first-responder support nonprofit with a far larger national footprint and grant-making model.
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: National nonprofit that supports firefighters and their families after line-of-duty injuries and fatalities. Comparable as a firefighter-support nonprofit with national reach, though it focuses on post-event support rather than ESS's on-scene incident rehabilitation.
• Firemen's Charitable & Benevolent Association: Long-standing firefighter-led nonprofit providing financial assistance, peer support, and crisis resources to firefighters and their families. Comparable as a firefighter-support charity, but focused on member financial assistance rather than on-scene incident rehabilitation.

Others

• Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services (VFIS): Insurance and risk management provider specializing in emergency services organizations including volunteer fire departments. Not a direct peer, but adjacent ecosystem participant that supports the same volunteer fire service community ESS serves.
• American Red Cross: Large humanitarian nonprofit providing emergency response, disaster relief, and health training services nationwide. Comparable as a volunteer-driven emergency support organization, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader scope than ESS's county-level firefighter rehab focus.
• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): Labor union representing professional firefighters and paramedics across North America. Not a direct service peer, but adjacent — IAFF also operates firefighter behavioral health and rehab-related programs that overlap conceptually with ESS's mental health and incident rehabilitation services.

Direct peers

• Wildland Firefighter Foundation: Nonprofit that provides support, training, and resources to wildland firefighters and their families, including on-scene and post-incident assistance. Closest peer to ESS in mission and structure, though focused on wildland rather than structural firefighting.

Regional players

• Chisolm Trail 100 Club: Regional Texas organization that supports families of first responders killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. ESS is already featured in this organization's 2022 calendar, indicating an established relationship; comparable as a regional first-responder support entity operating in the same North Texas geography.

Emerging players

• Leary Firefighters Foundation: Nonprofit supporting firefighters and fire service organizations through training, equipment grants, and wellness programs. Comparable in its firefighter-wellness and support orientation, but operating primarily as a grant-making entity rather than a direct on-scene service provider like ESS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/381672805257064

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Emergency Support Service