Tariffs, Small Businesses and Fire Protection Equipment.
As of 2024, many small businesses across the U.S. are feeling the pressure from rising tariffs on imported goods — and FireFighter1 is no exception from reality. As a company built on the mission of making fire protection both accessible and affordable, we believe and operate on a strict policy of being fully transparent with our customers and partners.
So here today, we want to shed light and help explain how these changes in trade are affecting the fire safety industry, what FF1 is doing to adapt, and how our commitment to you remains as strong as ever.
Photos by: Live R. & Courtney W.
How Tariffs Are Impacting the Fire Safety & Preparedness Industry:
The new tariff regulations on imports from foreign countries like Canada and Mexico have introduced a fresh wave of challenges and hardships for small businesses across all industries, particularly those with heavy and significant reliance on specialized components. Fire protection systems typically require high-grade fittings, valves, hoses, and adapters — components that aren’t always manufactured domestically at the scale or specifications that are required to complement the overall product solution.
For FireFighter1, some of our critical parts — including specialized fittings and adapters — are provided by trusted and certified partners in neighboring countries. With tariff increases now in full effect, the cost of these components has significantly surged, forcing businesses like ours to make difficult decisions.
The Rationale Behind FireFighter1’s Slight Pricing Adjustment:
Being a small business, we’ve always operated with lean and slim profit margins so we can keep prices reasonable for families and communities, especially those prone to be in high-risk fire zones. We recognize and understand that when it comes to fire protection, affordability plays a significant role in preparedness.
But with the rising tariffs as of 2024, it was clear that absorbing the full brunt of these new associated costs would mean either sacrificing product quality or jeopardizing operational sustainability — neither of which align with our values nor are core to what we stand for.
Instead, we chose to take a balanced, honest and transparent approach:
- We updated our prices only as necessary, keeping the price increase as minimal as possible.
- We negotiated and collaborated with our foreign partnering suppliers to secure discounted show rates, in an effort to protect our customers from even more pronounced impacts on their overall costs.
- And most importantly, we absorbed a portion of the cost ourselves, as we believe that fire safety shouldn't compromise fair pricing.
We view our end customers as partners — and we’re committed to demonstrating how we are facing these challenges with integrity, not shortcuts.
Why We’ll Never Compromise on Quality:
Cutting corners is not just bad business in our line of work — it’s dangerous and life threatening. Our products are designed and served to help protect lives, homes, and communities from wildfires and emergencies. Each hose, connector, and mounting system in our FireFighter1 kit is built to perform under extreme pressure, both literally and figuratively.
That is why, even as global trade becomes more unpredictable and volatile, we refuse to compromise and cut corners:
- We test each single batch of components for durability and compatibility.
- We stand by and have immense faith in our aquatic adaptive fire solutions as reliable home-ready systems that easily connect to your pool for instant access to water.
- We invest in product research & development for continuous improvements instead of shortcuts — because protection should never be uncertain or even questionable.
Our Pledge & Commitment to U.S. Sourcing and Long-Term Stability:
While international sourcing has allowed us to build a trusted product at an accessible price point, we’re actively and aggressively expanding our domestic sourcing network. Our goal is to reduce dependence on volatile foreign trade policies and bring more of our supply chain home.
As we develop new partnerships with American manufacturers, we aim to:
- Enhance supply chain resilience.
- Reduce shipping delays.
- Establish stability in long-term pricing.
- Stimulate the U.S. economy and job creations.
We are in this for the long run/haul — that means building a business that is strong, flexible, and founded on the values of customer-first practices.
What This Means for You: Trust, Transparency, and Readiness:
At FireFighter1, our mission is straightforward: give homeowners the best tools available to equip them to act fast in the face of fire emergencies. Whether it's soaking dry vegetation, drenching home exterior, defending property lines, or giving firefighters a head start, our systems provide a critical first line of defense — all while using the water you already have available in your pool.
So, what can you expect from us during this unpredictable volatile period?
- Clarity regarding pricing and product values.
- Consistent quality of all fire equipment components.
- Active and continuous efforts to maintain and keep prices steady despite rising tariffs.
- Unwavering and steady commitment to protecting your home and loved ones.
As always, we are proud to stand with our community through every season — fire, flood, or event inflation. And from the bottom of our hearts, from all of us here at FF1, we thank you for trusting FireFighter1 as your partner in fire preparedness.
Weekly Fact-Drop:
Did you know that the American Action Forum notes that small businesses import around $868 billion in goods. In fact, a significant proportion of US importing firms are small businesses — among all identified US importing manufacturing firms, a substantial number had fewer than 50 employees.
Data: FedEx Small Business Trade Index, March 2024
.Protect What Matters Most:
With fire seasons growing longer and more intense each year, every second matters. Don’t wait until it's too late — make sure to equip your home with a reliable, trusted, and tested ready-to-use system designed for real emergencies.
Together, we are building a connected community that is sustainable, resilient, and rooted in what truly matters — putting the safety of loved ones first.
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Be on the lookout for new FF1 product releases.