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Key people at Better Fire Protection.
Better Fire Protection was founded in 2019 by Robert Irving (Founder).
Better Fire Protection is an Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based commercial fire protection services provider specializing in the installation, inspection, and maintenance of fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems. The seed-funded company operates primarily in the Chicagoland area while expanding its national footprint through targeted acquisitions, including the purchase of Dallas-Fort Worth-based DFS. Backed by a strategic growth investment from Boston-based private equity firm Abry Partners, the enterprise executes a fee-for-service business model serving commercial property owners and facility managers. The organization's corporate structure involves ties to parent company Summit Fire & Security, and its executive leadership includes CEO Don Mershon, who brings over 30 years of industry experience. Better Fire Protection was founded in 2022 through the combination of Assurant Fire Protection, Complete Fire Pump Service, and Xtreme Fire Protection by Matt Palas and Jim O'Malley.
Better Fire Protection was founded in 2019 by Robert Irving (Founder).
Key people at Better Fire Protection.
Better Fire Protection is a small, Aggie-owned fire safety company founded in January 2019 in College Station, Texas, specializing in fire sprinkler installation and related services for residential and commercial customers in the Brazos Valley.[4][6] It serves local clients with comprehensive fire protection solutions, addressing safety compliance and risk mitigation in buildings, with a team handling jobs of all sizes and generating under $5 million in revenue.[4] Note that search results distinguish this from Better Protection (btrprotection.com), a larger Abry Partners-backed platform in the fire and life safety industry, formed in 2022 via acquisitions like Assurant Fire Protection and Xtreme Fire Protection, focusing on design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of fire systems nationwide.[1][3] Better Fire Protection was acquired by Summit Fire & Security, rebranding to maintain service continuity under the new name.[7]
Better Fire Protection was established on January 7, 2019, as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in College Station, Texas, by managing member Robert M. Irving Jr., operating as an Aggie-owned (Texas A&M-affiliated) business.[4][6] The company emerged to provide accessible fire safety services across the Brazos Valley, starting with a local focus on residential and commercial fire sprinklers without notable early funding beyond small rounds under $5 million.[4][6] It built initial traction through hands-on service, earning an A+ BBB rating despite lacking accreditation, and grew to serve diverse clients over six years before its acquisition by Summit Fire & Security, which integrated it for expanded operations under a new brand.[6][7]
Better Fire Protection operates in the fire and life safety sector, riding trends in regulatory-driven building compliance and recession-resistant essential services amid rising urbanization and safety mandates in Texas.[2][5] Its timing aligns with industry consolidation, as seen in larger players like Better Protection's Southwest expansion via acquisitions (e.g., DFS Fire Systems in 2024), creating opportunities for regional firms to scale through buyouts.[1][5] Market forces like Texas population growth and commercial development favor localized providers, while its Summit integration influences the ecosystem by bolstering national networks for standardized fire protection.[7] This positions it within a fragmented industry shifting toward platform strategies for nationwide coverage.[1][2]
Under Summit Fire & Security, Better Fire Protection's legacy service model will likely fuel regional growth within a larger portfolio, targeting Texas expansion amid ongoing M&A in fire safety.[7] Trends like stricter fire codes, tech-integrated suppression systems, and climate-driven risks will shape its path, potentially evolving from local specialist to key Southwest node. Its influence may grow through Summit's network, mirroring consolidators like Better Protection, ensuring sustained demand in a vital, non-discretionary market—reinforcing its deliberate focus on reliable protection from humble College Station roots.[1][5][7]
