Fire-Dex Blog

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) has become the largest department in the United States to transition its entire fleet to non-PFAS turnout gear. The gear was purchased in part through a $2.35 million Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from FEMA and matching funds from the department,

 Fire-Dex, a leading provider of firefighter PPE, continues to be recognized for attracting top talent, driving innovation, and achieving all-around excellence as a business.  

For the firefighting instructors of Insight Fire Training, the teaching isn’t just a job. As founder and lead instructor Andy Starnes says, the work is a calling. 

At the core of Fire-Dex’s mission is the promise to “Serve Those Who Serve.” Sometimes, that means serving the next generation of first responders. 

VentEnterSearch, a training group out of Florida, has carved out a reputation for delivering high-impact, hands-on instruction centered around truck company operations. But as co-founder Eric Wheaton explains, their training is useful for every firefighter.

In a world where flashy techniques and viral training videos often steal the spotlight, Derek Currao and the team at MissionCIT are on a mission to bring firefighter training back to its roots. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: focus on reality, emphasize the basics, and train firefighters

In the last few decades, turnouts have evolved from rubber coats to modern three-layer composites. Advances in materials and fit mean that gear performs at a higher level than it did previously.

Misty Rackley, warehouse manager of Fire-Dex’s production plant in Pelham, Georgia, has spent 20 years working in the same building. 

“Dynamic,” says Michelle Petrie. Of all the words that could be used to describe her time at Fire-Dex, this one felt the most accurate. “We're always hopping. We’re always full of energy, very family oriented.”

In the fire world, there’s no such thing as a 9 to 5.