Long-time fire service publishing executive Scott Bieda left retirement to jump into the fire suppression tech industry, where he and his partners launched a new company with a relatively old product. He sat down to talk with us about what the tech can do for the fire and hazmat sectors, and how they plan to make those sectors aware of this tool.
What inspired your original idea?
Fire Suppression Industries manufactures a portable aerosol fire suppression system called SUPRESSALL. Although the technology has been in existence for 17 years as an efficient way to suppress fires using less water and reducing firefighter exposure to hazards, pandemic-related supply chain issues created difficulty in reliably obtaining the product.
So, in 2024, FSI was founded by first purchasing the assets and rights of an importer/distributor and then commencing the manufacturing of product in the USA.
FSI then created the brand name SUPPRESSALL and reliable supply is no longer a problem.
How did that idea evolve into what we see today?
Manufacturing in the U.S. forced FSI to take control of product design, engineering and sourcing of component products. As a result, the new SUPPRESSALL design is the most powerful portable aerosol fire suppression system available in the U. S. market.
What did you learn from early failures?
The SUPPRESSALL system has never failed from a product performance viewpoint, but the existence of this product and its benefits are relatively unknown. We saw that it was necessary to introduce the product through a series of emails and trade shows to educate product users on its features and benefits.
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Different from other fire fighting methods, the tool is a way to suppress the fire as an initial transitional attack device (first on scene) before water and manpower arrive (or in the event that water and manpower are not available). Because it is so new to so many people, a fire department needs proper training on the device (not complicated).
What other markets have you broken into?
SUPPRESSALL functions best in enclosed environments up to the size of a two-car garage for a single unit. Commercial fishing vessels have become a strong market for FSI and are used in engine compartments and galley fires. Other markets include wind turbines, mobile homes, trailer parks, office buildings and hotels.
What has been the most profound story you have heard from a customer?
On two specific instances, our firefighter customers have told us that using the device saved lives. In one instance these lives were saved in a structure fire, and in the other lives were saved in a fire on a marine vessel.
What is the biggest misconception about SUPPRESSALL’s role in emergency response?
FSI must be effective in communicating that the aerosol does not deplete oxygen, is non-toxic and non-corrosive. SUPPRESSALL also acts very quickly in suppressing fires, which results in far fewer carcinogens being released that could harm firefighters.
For a hazmat team, what is the biggest barrier to entry to using SUPPRESSALL?
In a contained environment, aerosol fire suppressants can be a very fast and efficient method of suppressing hazardous materials fires. Firefighters armed with aerosol suppressants need to be trained on how the deployed aerosol may interact with the hazardous materials fueling a fire.
What problem keeps you up at night?
Even though aerosol fire suppression technology has been used worldwide since 2008, it is still relatively unknown in the fire service. Awareness, education and adoption of aerosol fire suppression is an ongoing challenge.
What does the near-term future look like for your company?
Near-term for FSI would be defined as the next 12 months. Our objective during this period will be to continue to educate the fire service on the benefits of portable aerosol fire suppression, continue to build our distributor and manufacturer rep network plus conduct as many live-burn demonstrations as possible.
What does the long-term future look like for your company?
Beyond the next 12-months, FSI anticipates expansion of our production capabilities to handle domestic and our growing international business. Additionally, FSI will launch two new products (based on customer input) that will increase the number of aerosol fire suppression applications in other markets.
What is your boldest prediction for SUPPRESSALL’s future role in hazmat, fire and emergency response?
Realistically, a strong case can be made for at least one SUPPRESSALL unit carried on every first responder vehicle in the U.S.
