Chimney Fire season, be prepared!

Unfortunately, chimney fires are a real threat this time of year. According to csia.org, there are an average of 25,100 chimney fires, responsible for about 30 deaths, and over 126.1 million dollars in property damage a year.

These are scary numbers.

It's important that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected on a regular basis to avoid dealing with this serious and harmful occurrence.

Here at TheFireStore we sell a Chimney Snuffer Kit that we believe every fire engine and apparatus should have ready and on hand to run up to the roof in the event of a chimney fire.

This little kit is an easy to use, one-man job, that's heavy enough to break through the birds nests and buildup in chimneys, and let's out just enough water to put out the fire but not case damage to the cement and chimney structure.

This short little video really helps to explain the snuffer kit best:




To grab one of these Chimney Snuffer Kits for your department, click here.

Another great product we have which is on a deep discount right now is the Chimfex Fire Suppressant. At only $19.99, it's an amazing little product to keep on hand in the event of a chimney fire and to provide an immediate line of defense for controlling it.

This is a great little tool that can be used at home, or just as a back-up or in-case-of-emergency event, to ease those worries!

Be sure to read all about it, see the directions and product details here.

Here's to a hopefully safer fireplace season!

On Scene Reviews: Storm Fleece Job Shirt

-Our blog, On Scene with TheFireStore & The FireGeezer Blog are working together doing a review program of products we think you'll benefit from hearing an inside perspective. -

The 5.11 Storm Fleece job shirt has a new water-repellent fabric that was provided for our test. We felt that the best person to check out this new feature would be an engine driver, so we asked Technician Paul Hines of Rescue Engine 14 to give it a workout.

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Thank you for allowing me to test and review this 5.11 Storm Fleece job shirt for TheFireStore. I wore it to work every day of the test period and washed it several times.

The pullover held up well, and doesn't show any sign of unnecessary wear and tear. I'm a big fan of the mock collar, especially since it is made of the same material as the rest of the jacket and is very comfortable.

It is very warm, but I never caught myself sweating in it, which was surprising since the weather is just beginning to get cold enough to be wearing long sleeves.

This new model of the 5.11 line is featuring a water-repellent fabric that I was anxious to try out.

Twice I wore it in light rain conditions, and the water just beaded up on the outside and brushed right off, just like the company claimed it would. It did not soak into the fabric at all. I am curious to see if this water-shedding feature fades over time and washings, or if it continues to hold up. So far so good, though. That's a great feature of the Storm Fleece model.

My only negative comment would be fit. I personally would like the body to be less bulky. I couldn't go any smaller due to sleeve length, but could use a bit less in the body. I was wearing a size Large.
The jacket did shrink a little after first wash, but no more than expected from any garment, so no complaints there.

Overall I am very happy with this job shirt and I'm looking forward to a lot of good use out of it in the future.

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To order your own 5.11 Storm Fleece Job shirt, click here now.

We're catering to two types of Black Friday shoppers!

There are two types of Black Friday shoppers.

There's the type who hate going to the over crowded malls, where parking is a nightmare, lines are outrageous and germs are a plenty.

That kind of shopper likes to stay at home in their pj's and shop from the comfort of their couch avoiding the craziness. We don't blame them one bit. So, we at TheFireStore have all sorts of great Black Friday deals on the website today, and you don't want to miss them.

All it takes is a little browsing and clicking from the comfort of your home.

Check out some of the great Online deals:

-20% off all 5.11 apparel

-10% off Warrington Pro 5006 Boots

-up to 15% off Ben 2 Low Rider Helmets

-15% off the Streamlight Vantage

-15% off Streamlight Survivors

-15% off Shelby Flex-Tuff Gloves

....the list goes on and on. So jump on our site to see all the other Black Friday Deals!!

There's another type of Black Friday shopper. One who loves to actually get out there, go into the stores, into the crowds, and find their own deals with their bare hands.

So we're catering to you, too! If you're local then come on out to our showroom in Coatesville, Pennsylvania to check out the great deals we have for you there! Get here fast for the chance to win a $50 gift card, and because merchandise is limited!

Some of the Showroom Deals include:

-Save $64.99 on Code 3 Frontier LED mini-bar

-Save $81.49 Cairns Standard New Yorker, Standard with Bourkes

-Cairns 1044 with Bourkes and Defender Visor, Standard, Black

-Save $20 on the Surefire 6PX Pro 9/11 Commemorative Red Flashlight

...plus many more!

So, we'll see you in one of two places, Black Friday Shoppers--either online or in our showroom!

Happy Shopping!

A Note of Thanks from our President & Vice President

Dear WPSG Customers,

Thanksgiving is a time for us all to stop and reflect on the past year and the many things that we are most thankful for as individuals, as well as a company.

My wife, Ruth and I would like to take this time to thank you all for your patronage this past year, or years as it may be for many of you. Our business has continued to grow every year and it is because of each one of you, as well as the goodness of God upon our business. 

Customers often don't get to know how much they are appreciated but we are truly grateful for the continued support you’ve shown us.

We hope that you’ll have a restful day tomorrow and can enjoy a great meal with family and friends. For those of you on duty I hope you’ll get the time to enjoy a complete Thanksgiving meal before the tones or bells go off.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jim & Ruth Witmer

Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc.


Please use promo code THX2011 for $15 off any order of $100 or more on our website, TheFireStore.com.

Great Gift Alert: Firefighter Watches

It's about that time to start shopping for the special Firefighter in your life. At TheFireStore we make it easy for you to find the perfect gift that will wow the hero in your life.

With an entire section on our website devoted to gift items, such as jewelry, featuring our awesome watches, survivor bracelets and rings, you have an array of options to choose from making gift giving that much easier.

But, who doesn't love a watch? And watches we have a plenty! Black ones, silver ones, gold ones, white faces, blue faces, one for every type of style.

These are just a few. To view all our watches, click here.

Our watches meet military specifications, are water resistant, scratch resistant, and are all-around good looking. What a perfect gift for the Firefighter in your life!

To read more details on these watches, and see more specifications, check them out here.

On Duty with Scott, Firefighter.

On Duty are posts in which we highlight employees of TheFireStore who are not only committed to serving our customers throughout the workday, but also spend their free time serving in the industry they love. 

What is your job at TheFireStore and what does it entail?


When I first started at TheFireStore I was an Accounts Payable Associate. I entered HQ invoices, and also would file invoices in alphabetical order. I also received checks to pull for payment. I recently moved into the Returns Department, which I am still in the learning process of everything there is to know about Returns.


In what line of service are you and for how long have you been serving? 


I am a Firefighter. I have been serving for 9 years.

What do you love most about being a Firefighter?


The thing I love most about being a Firefighter is helping my community, and also helping my fellow brothers and sisters in the fire service. My fire department is like my second family and the fire chief and his wife make sure we all get together once in while just hang out or go to dinner as group.


Do you enjoy working in the fire service in both your professional and personal life? Why?


I do! It nice to talk to fellow firefighters in the office and the different situations they have been in. It also nice to talk to vendors about their products, and how I have used them in my fire department, too. My knowledge keeps growing everyday with new and improved products.


How have you felt your experience has helped you better aid our customers? 


Yes! I get to familiarize myself with different types of equipment and how they are used in different ways. For example, we just recently purchased through TheFireStore some new Struts which are made easier to use by putting in place, then twisting the top of the strut, then locking into place. Unlike our old struts where you had to use a pin method. It has come in handy on our Rescue Truck. We also recently purchased a new Engine in which we purchased new tools from TheFireStore. 

Best Seller: Shields of Valor

There's no denying that our Leather Fronts of top notch in quality. Not only are they made of the highest quality leather, but they look great, are totally customizable, and a necessary and unique part of your gear.

We have an amazing feature on our website that we call our Build It, See It, Buy It program, where you can go through the entire shield ordering process, changing colors, design, number of panels, lettering color, center number/letter, body width, etc.

Playing with our Build It, See It, Buy It program is half the fun! The other half the fun is when you actually receive the custom beauty and get to add your unique design to your helmet, step back, and oooh & ahh at your creation.

If you've never gotten a chance to use our online program to build a custom shield, you have to try it out! It's a blast, and watching your shield come to life in front of you is a fun, added perk. You could even print it out and subtly leave it around to 'drop the hint' to friends and family about your shield needs & wants. Shields of Valor make awesome Christmas gifts*.

So hop on our Build It, See It, Buy It page today to get started.

For details on our shields, please see our FAQ page. 

*Custom shields will take approx. 2-3 weeks to manufacture and ship. Leather front orders for three (3) or less will be shipped via US mail. Orders for four (4) or more, or if express shipping options are selected, will ship via UPS. Please select the correct shipping address based on quantity or shipping preferences during checkout.

Please place your order by the following dates to receive by or before Dec. 23

Christmas Delivery USPS:	Dec. 7
Christmas Delivery UPS 3 day:	Dec. 14
Christmas Delivery UPS 2 day:	Dec. 15
Christmas Delivery UPS 1 day:	Dec. 16

On Scene Reviews: Door Chock Search & Rescue Hook

-Our blog, On Scene with TheFireStore & The FireGeezer Blog are working together doing a review program of products we think you'll benefit from hearing an inside perspective. -

This week we are reviewing the TFS Search and Rescue Hook, a device that can also assist as a door chock. It's primary purpose is to serve as a secure and reliable source to hook a carabiner for a life-line into before entering a space for a search. It saves time because once you chock the door, you will not have to search about for a tie-off point. The Search and Rescue Tool performs both functions. The manufacturer adds to the description: 

-Secures doors in open position simply by placing the hook over a hinge 

-Ring keeps door open and provides quick and easy attachment for search and rescue line, so you have a safe return to the door every time 

-Durable, all welded steel construction with red powder coated finish 

-For use on residential or commercial doors 

-Compact, perfect for pocket or under helmet band(weight: 4.5 oz / length: approx. 4”) 

-Made by a firefighter for firefighters in the USA

The Training Division of the Stafford County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department put the hook through a workout and this is what they found:

We made several trial uses of the Search and Rescue Hook in different settings.

Using a lifeline is not a standard evolution during our searches, but it does have practicality in R.I.T. situations and special circumstances.

We tried using the hook in a variety of situations and it was successful on door hinges and the perforated metal wall studs. It held firmly and was reliable. It was also quickly attched and hooked into. In a commercial or other large area, there may be nothing to attach it to, however.

All the guys trying it felt that it is easy and convenient to deploy, yet limited in where it can be used. Overall, we liked using the hook when we could.

For more details or to purchase the TFS: Door Chock & Rescue Hook, click here. 

Be Seen on the Scene: Get your high-vis on.

This past Sunday was Daylight Savings. We "Fell Back", turning the clocks back one hour.  Making this the time of year when your nights, however, seem shorter, because they're filled with darkness earlier.

So that means it's time to double check that you're all set for the scene, making sure you're highly visible and that safety is a top priority.

TheFireStore can hook you up with all sorts of great high-vis safety vests that meet all the safety standards and will keep you visible, recognizable and safe on the scene.  

The great thing about all our vest options is that they are also customizable. You can add reflective lettering to the back, choosing from 16 different ID panels we offer* picking the best fit for you according to job title.

Make sure to check out all our High-Vis apparel on our website, today.

*If you don’t see the vest back title you are looking for in the dropdown selection, please call 800-852-6088 x 1175 to learn more about our custom print options. Your vest order and custom print information can be taken over the phone by our Embellishment Department. Custom print set-up fees for under 6 pieces will apply

Shelby FLEX TUFF Gloves & a free FireCalc

This week we have a special promotion going we think you'll love.

When you purchase a pair of the Shelby 5291 FLEX TUFF Structural firefighting gloves, you'll receive a FREE Akron: FireCalc 9900 Pocket Calculator. 

These gloves are awesome! They come pre-curved, aligning with the way your hand naturally curves, are NFPA approved, made from Koala gold-split cowhide, lifetime guarantee for liner pullout, reflective safety enhancements, and made in the good old USA. 

So when you purchase a pair of these great gloves, in either gauntlet or wristlet style you'll receive this Akron: FireCalc Pocket Calculator completely free as a gift from us!  This FireCalc is a necessity when it comes to fire training and is preprogrammed to calculate:

• Engine Pressure
• Friction Loss
• Flow Rate (Straight Tip or Fog Nozzle)
• Reaction Force (Straight Tip or Fog Nozzle)
• Application Rate

So be sure to pop on over to our online website and get yourself some great gloves and a free FireCalc, today!

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On Scene Reviews: The Fat Ivan Door Chock

-Our blog, On Scene with TheFireStore & The FireGeezer Blog are working together doing a review program of products we think you'll benefit from hearing an inside perspective. -

The Stafford County, Virginia, Fire & Rescue Dept. Training Division recently tried out the Fat Ivan door chock in a variety of doors and situations. Here is what they found with it:

The Fat Ivan door chock works better than expected. We used the Fat Ivan on both residential wood doors and commercial steel doors. Both trials allowed us to advance hose, not worry about the door closing behind us, and kept the entry and exit point open during the exercise.

Interior and exterior doors have one thing in common, they have steel door hinges. We had at least two hinges on each door encountered that made the Fat Ivan deployment easy to secure through its built in magnets. Steel doors and steel door jambs were the easiest to chock. The Fat Ivan secured to all parts of the steel door assembly. Door closures are no match for the Fat Ivan.

The hook assembly was fast and easy to deploy. The Fat Ivan worked equally as well on the top hinge, the center hinge, the bottom hinge, and even at the base of the door.

We have one complaint that could easily be remedied; no illumination on the Fat Ivan that we used. The Fat Ivan did not make locating an open door easy in a darkened environment. The Fat Ivan was very hard to locate in the interior of a burned structure. It looked much like the interior furnishings that were burned. (editor's note: They were using the black-colored chock. There is also a yellow version available.)

........ Lt. Matthew Warren

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Another Fat Ivan (the yellow model) was tested at a firehouse in Baytown, Texas, and this was their consensus:

We've played with the Fat Ivan around the station a bit and I'm satisfied enough that I've put it in my bunkers. I'm always circumspect when someone invents a better mousetrap that happens to cost several times as much as the old. I tend to think that most of our tools carry their forms for a reason and that it's only occasionally that one can be truly improved. The Fat Ivan is one of those.

It's definitely more reliable than an old wooden wedge and it's actually more compact and easier to carry. The only shortcoming is that it won't work on doors that don't open at least 90 degrees but that's a minor tradeoff for how firmly it holds those that do.

........ Lt. Patrick Mahoney

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Please be sure to check out our Fat Ivan Door Chock, available here.

On Duty with Butch, Fire Chief

On Duty are posts in which we highlight employees of TheFireStore who are not only committed to serving our customers throughout the workday, but also spend their free time serving in the industry they love. 

What is your job at TheFireStore and what does it entail?

 I am the Sr. Sales Support Associate, for 2 of our Sale Associate's; Jay Abel and Mike "O". I also help and assist Kevin Greenlee our South Jersey Sales Associate, with New Jersey customers that call into the call center or fax in orders.

In what line of service are you and for how long have you been serving? 


I am a Life time Member of the Concordville Fire & P.A. and the Bethel Twp Hose Company; both are in Delaware County, Pa.

What do you love most about being a Firefighter?

I have been a Chief Officer for Concordville since the 1970's up to and including 2008, that’s 4 decades, as Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, and Asst Chief, something I'm very proud of. I am a 3rd generation VFF, and my children are the 4th generation of family fire fighters/EMT.


It was the thing to do when I was old enough to become a member. It was a way of giving back to the community, helping someone in their time of need, and in my case it was keeping up the family tradition.


Do you enjoy working in the fire service in both your professional and personal life? Why?


Yes I do/did, because you build a brotherhood/sisterhood with the people you see everyday and meet, it's almost like a second family. You learn to come to respect them and know they have your back and that they will be there for you.


How have you felt your experience has helped you better aid our customers? Any specific examples?


I have forged some great friendships over the years with different fire chiefs and members of their fire companies. I'd like to think I have a following of friends/fire companies that I bring to the table, as customers, either as new or better customers than we had in the past. 

New Product: The coolest reflective technology you've seen.

Not a fan of lots of bright-colored reflective decals all over your helmet? We don't blame you. This new, innovative decal design we're showing you today is the PERFECT thing for you!

Basically, when you buy one of these decals, from the naked eye, they appear ALL BLACK. However, when a direct source of light shines on them, the decals light up giving you amazing visibility and showing the unique design.

The option of decals are endless! Here are just a few:

(But remember, they will appear all black until a light source is shined on them...and then they'll appear like this:)

These are a one of a kind design, unique to TheFireStore, and available for immediate purchase. So what are you waiting for? 

Everyone who sees you with these are sure to be amazed by this cool technology. 

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Click here to see our full stock of options & designs.