Fire Etc

What Fire Etc does

Fire Etc is a veteran-owned private distributor and service provider of firefighting and emergency response equipment, headquartered in San Diego, California, and operating primarily across Southern California. Founded in 1970, the company has built a 50-plus-year presence in the fire protection industry, offering a comprehensive catalog that spans boots, helmets, PPE, breathing apparatus (SCBA and PAPR), fire hoses, extinguishers, rescue tools, thermal imaging cameras, gas detection equipment, and wildland firefighting gear sourced from leading manufacturers including Draeger, HAIX, MSA, Cairns, Bullard, Innotex, TNT Rescue, Streamlight, Coltri, Amerex, and Fire-Dex. The company serves professional firefighters, government agencies, and military customers, holding a GSA Schedule contract (47QSMS25D00AH) that enables federal procurement access alongside direct showroom and station-visit sales channels.

The business operates three revenue streams: one-time equipment sales across a wide price spectrum (from $5 accessories to over $44,000 breathing air compressors), recurring rental services for fire hose, turnout gear, and temporary fire mains (primarily channeled through sister company Redline Rentals), and professional services including SCBA inspection and repair, fire extinguisher maintenance, gas detection calibration, and gauge calibration. Commercial operations combine a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront for SMB and individual buyers with field sales targeting enterprise fire departments and government buyers, supported by an email newsletter, Instagram presence, and GSA Advantage listings as marketing channels.

Fire Etc sits within a broader corporate family that includes Socal PPE (carcinogen-mitigation PPE and cleaning products), Redline Rentals (turnout gear and equipment rentals), and Tinosa (precision life support systems). The company operates as a traditional physical-product distributor and service center rather than a technology developer, with no disclosed software products, mobile applications, APIs, or proprietary technology assets. Ownership is private with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing, consistent with its veteran-owned status and multi-decade founder- or family-controlled operating history.

Name

Fire Etc

Legal name

Fire Etc

Website

https://fire-etc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fire Etc is a veteran-owned San Diego distributor and service provider of firefighting equipment, PPE, breathing apparatus, and rescue tools, serving professional firefighters, government agencies, and military customers across Southern California with GSA contract access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firefighting Equipment Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Protection Systems Contracting (Sprinklers, Alarms, Suppression) (IMAFALAD), Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Firefighting equipment supply
• Firefighter PPE distribution
• SCBA inspection service
• Fire safety equipment
• Breathing apparatus sales

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and used fire and safety equipment including boots, helmets, PPE, tools, breathing apparatus, fire extinguishers, and accessories from various brand manufacturers.
2. Equipment Rental: Rental services including fire hose rental, temporary fire main rental, and turnout gear rentals through affiliated company Redline Rentals.
3. Service and Calibration: Service offerings including SCBA inspection and repair, fire extinguisher services, gas detection equipment calibration, and gauge calibration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fire Etc sells and services fire and safety equipment for firefighters, government agencies, and military customers across Southern California. The company distributes branded products (boots, helmets, PPE, SCBA, fire extinguishers, fire hose, rescue tools, thermal imaging cameras) and provides inspection, repair, calibration, and rental services through its own storefront, direct field sales, and GSA procurement listing.

Product overview

Fire Etc is a veteran-owned fire and safety equipment company serving Southern California for over 50 years, offering sales, rental, and service of new and used fire and safety equipment for firefighters, government, and military. The company operates as a single unified e-commerce platform built on Shopify, offering a comprehensive portfolio of firefighting products across multiple categories including boots (Station, Structure, Wildland, Tactical), PPE (helmets, gloves, coveralls, flash hoods, eye protection, PAPRs), tools (axes, forcible entry, rescue equipment, wrenches), breathing apparatus, fire extinguishers, fire hose, flashlights, thermal imaging cameras, gas detection equipment, and wildland equipment. The company also provides related services including SCBA inspection and repair, fire extinguisher services, fire hose service and rental, temporary fire main rental, and equipment calibration services. Products are sourced from multiple branded manufacturers including Draeger, HAIX, Innotex, MSA, Cairns, Bullard, Council Tool, TNT Rescue, and many others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Firefighter Boots Firefighting and safety boots spanning Station Boots, Structure Boots, Wildland Boots, Military/Tactical Boots, and Women's Boots, sourced from brands including HAIX, Pro Warrington, Whites Boots, Danner, Steel Blue, Belleville, and Black Diamond. Sold to professional firefighters, military, and wildland responders with prices ranging from approximately $134 to $655 depending on category and brand.
• Firefighting Helmets Structure Helmets and Wildland Helmets from manufacturers including Cairns (Cairns 880 Traditional series) and Bullard (full brim ratchet wildland models), sold to structural and wildland firefighters.
• Firefighter PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Comprehensive PPE including Coveralls, Flash Hoods, Eye Protection, Gloves, PAPRs (Powered Air-Purifying Respirators), Station Clothing, Structure Clothing, Wildland Clothing, and Tech Rescue gear, from brands such as Innotex (Classic and Energy series), Fire-Dex (CarbonX and Nomex hoods), and SC Products.
• Firefighting Tools Firefighting tools including Fire Axes, Forcible Entry Tools, Hand Tools, Rescue Tools, Wrenches/Spanners, and Mounts & Brackets from Council Tool, Leatherhead Tools, Fire Hooks, and TNT Rescue.
• Breathing Air Equipment Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), PAPR systems, and breathing air compressors from Draeger (PSS AirBoss, PSS 7000, PSS 5000, FPS 7000 facepieces, X-plore PAPR) and Coltri (ICON, SILENT HD, OPEN HD, Super Silent, ERGO series). Compressors priced from $14,510 to $44,890.
• Fire Extinguishers & Accessories Fire extinguishers (ABC dry chemical, CO2, AVD battery), cabinets, brackets, and accessories from Amerex, Potter Roemer, and Samson.
• Fire Hose Type II fire hose with coupled fittings from North American Fire Hose and Crossfire.
• Flashlights & Lighting Firefighting flashlights, helmet lights, lanterns, and headlamps from Streamlight (Survivor, Vulcan, Stinger), Pelican, Nightstick, and FoxFury.
• Thermal Imaging Cameras Thermal imaging cameras for firefighting and rescue operations.
• Gas Detection Equipment Gas detection equipment for monitoring hazardous atmospheres in firefighting and industrial applications.
• Apparatus Equipment Fire apparatus equipment including pumps, mounts, brackets, and wildland equipment from Ziamatic, Indian, and Vallfirest.
• Escape Belts & Harnesses NFPA-compliant escape belts, ladders, harnesses, and bailout equipment from Cree, Crow, Lakota, Spokane, and Arapaho.
• Rescue Tools Hydraulic rescue equipment including cutters, spreaders, rams, power units, and hand pumps from TNT Rescue, Channellock, and Res-Q-Rench.
• SCBA Inspection & Repair Inspection and repair services for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment, performed as a factory-authorized service center for Draeger and other SCBA brands.
• Fire Extinguisher Services Fire extinguisher inspection, maintenance, and recharge services.
• Fire Hose Service & Rental Fire hose testing, maintenance, and rental services.
• Temporary Fire Main Rental Temporary fire main rental for construction sites and events.
• Gas Detection Equipment Calibration Calibration services for gas detection monitoring equipment.
• Gauge Calibration Calibration services for pressure gauges and other firefighting equipment gauges.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Socal PPEcoreOthersRelated company under same ownership focused on protecting firefighters from cancer-causing carcinogens through specialized PPE and cleaning products. Operates as sister company to Fire Etc within the Fire Etc corporate family.
• Redline RentalscoreOthersRelated company under same ownership offering firefighting turnout rentals. Provides rental equipment options complementing Fire Etc's sales and service offerings.
• TinosacoreOthersRelated company under same ownership specializing in precision life support systems. Affiliated with Fire Etc brand family serving emergency responder equipment needs.
• DraegermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer/reseller of Draeger products including SCBA systems (PSS AirBoss, PSS 7000, PSS 5000), breathing apparatus, FPS 7000 facepieces, and X-plore PAPR systems. Major brand partnership for respiratory protection equipment.
• HAIXmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of HAIX fire boots including Airpower XR series, Missoula wildland boots, Fire Hunter Pro, Fire Eagle, and Fire Hero lines. Major brand for professional firefighter footwear.
• MSAmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand partner offering MSA safety equipment and firefighting gear. MSA is a major manufacturer of safety equipment.
• Steel BluemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of Steel Blue boots including Hobart and Blue Heeler lines. Featured brand for work boots.
• StreamlightmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand partner for professional flashlights including Survivor, Vulcan, and Stinger lines. Major supplier of firefighting illumination equipment.
• TNT RescuemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand for hydraulic rescue tools including spreaders, cutters, rams, and combination tools. Major supplier of vehicle extraction and rescue equipment.
• Vallfirest North AmericamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand partner for wildland firefighting equipment including portable pumps, backpack pumps, and fire line equipment.
• InnotexmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand partner for turnout gear and PPE clothing including Classic and Energy series. Major supplier of firefighting garments.
• CairnsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand for fire helmets including the Cairns 880 Traditional series in thermoplastic. Major supplier of fire service helmets.
• BullardmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand partner for wildland fire helmets including full brim ratchet models. Major supplier of wildland firefighting head protection.
• SC ProductsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand partner for firefighting PPE and safety equipment.
• ColtrimajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of Coltri breathing air compressors including ICON, SILENT HD, OPEN HD, Super Silent, and ERGO series. Major supplier of stationary and portable air compressor systems.
• AmerexmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand for fire extinguishers including ABC dry chemical and CO2 models. Major manufacturer of fire suppression equipment.
• Black DiamondminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of Black Diamond fire boots including X2 leather and 9451 rubber boot lines.
• Fire-DexmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured brand for fire boots (FDXL200, FDXR100) and PPE including CarbonX and Nomex hoods. Major supplier of firefighting garments and footwear.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Galls: Major public-safety uniform, footwear, and equipment distributor serving police, fire, EMS, and military. Highly comparable model: multi-brand authorized dealer with e-commerce storefront, field sales, and government contract access for PPE and gear.
• Municipal Emergency Services (MES): Specialized fire and EMS equipment distributor with deep relationships to municipal fire departments and a service-heavy offering including SCBA, extinguishers, and apparatus equipment. Closely aligned with Fire Etc's product mix and B2B/government GTM.
• Apollo Fire Equipment: Regional fire protection and life-safety equipment distributor carrying extinguishers, SCBA, PPE, and suppression systems. Directly comparable as a multi-line fire-safety distributor serving municipal, industrial, and government buyers.
• Witmer Public Safety Group: One of the largest US distributors of firefighting, EMS, and law enforcement equipment, PPE, and apparatus accessories. Directly comparable as a multi-brand authorized dealer serving fire departments and government agencies nationwide with both sales and service.
• Sentinel Fire Equipment: Distributor of firefighting equipment, PPE, hoses, and rescue tools serving fire departments and government agencies. Comparable multi-brand authorized-dealer model focused on the same fire-rescue procurement market.

Broad incumbents

• Airgas: Large industrial gas and safety products distributor (Air Liquide subsidiary) supplying breathing air, welding gases, and PPE to industrial and emergency-services customers. Adjacent overlap through breathing-air and PPE categories Fire Etc serves.
• Grainger: Broad-line industrial MRO distributor with significant safety/PPE category exposure and government contract presence. Comparable as a multi-channel B2B safety-equipment distributor, though Grainger does not specialize in fire-rescue equipment.

Emerging players

• Bound Tree Medical: Specialty distributor of EMS, fire-rescue, and medical equipment to first responders, with a strong recurring-supply model. Partial overlap with Fire Etc's respiratory, PPE, and gas-detection categories, though centered on EMS consumables.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/FireEtcCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/fireetcco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fire-etc

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 Fire Etc