LION Enters Agreement to Assist Firefighters in Developing Countries

Feb. 24, 2014

CHICAGO — LION and the International Fire Relief Mission have entered a new partnership to provide gear, tools and training to firefighters and emergency personnel in underserved communities around the world.

The agreement, signed at LION’s Chicago TotalCare facility where in-service gear is inspected, cleaned and repaired, will increase cooperation between the world’s leading manufacturer of firefighting gear and the non-profit organization internationally known for its support of fire services in the developing world.

IFRM President and CEO Ron Gruening described the new multi-year partnership as a step toward furthering the IFRM vision.

"IFRM's mission is to deliver donated equipment and knowledge to help firefighters in developing countries be safer and more effective," he said.

"LION has been an IFRM supporter since our early days; this expanded agreement shows their commitment to firefighter safety around the world." Steve Schwartz, LION’s CEO, described the initiative in terms of the company’s expanding global and social profiles. “We’re more active than ever in new markets around the world, including many emerging economies. Through the partnership with IFRM we see a tremendous opportunity to grow our company while bettering the lives of firefighters and communities — in the U.S. and in new markets like Mexico, Nigeria and Eastern Europe. Working with a leader like IFRM, we can get more gear and training to more markets, in a way that will have long-term impact.”

Schwartz noted that this initiative was part of LION’s 5/50 program — the global company goal to reach some 50,000 underserved firefighters with gear and training over the next 5 years.

The initiative is already off to a roaring start, with work to support warehousing and logistics for IFRM, and planning for the first joint outreach mission to the Bahamas in the coming months.

About LION

LION is a family-owned, global business headquartered in Dayton, Ohio that has been operating continuously since 1898. Municipal, state, federal and military agencies are its primary customers throughout the world. Its mission is to fulfill its customers’ personal safety, readiness and identity needs with innovative, game-changing solutions.

LION is the world’s largest supplier of structural fire personal protective clothing for first responders, as well as a leading provider of cutting-edge training products and facilities through its BullEx and HAAGEN companies. Through traditional contracting and public-private partnership arrangements, customers rely on LION TotalCare and LION LVI to manage the lifecycle of their uniforms, protective equipment and training products. For more information please visit our website at http://www.lionprotects.com

About the International Fire Relief Mission

The International Fire Relief Mission is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose mission is to collect donated new or used fire and EMS equipment, deliver it to fire departments in developing nations and educate members of those fire departments on the equipment's safe and proper use. IFRM is a nonprofit, nonreligious, nonpolitical group dedicated to saving firefighter and civilian lives. IFRM members do not draw a salary and all of the money raised is used to fulfilling the group's mission.

For more information, please visit its website at www.IFRM2007.com.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!

Request More Information

By clicking above, I acknowledge and agree to Endeavor Business Media’s Terms of Service and to Endeavor Business Media's use of my contact information to communicate with me about offerings by Endeavor, its brands, affiliates and/or third-party partners, consistent with Endeavor's Privacy Policy. In addition, I understand that my personal information will be shared with any sponsor(s) of the resource, so they can contact me directly about their products or services. Please refer to the privacy policies of such sponsor(s) for more details on how your information will be used by them. You may unsubscribe at any time.