Orange County Fire Authority in California Selects MSA Safety's G1 Breathing Apparatus to Help Protect Firefighters

Rhea-AI Summary

MSA Safety has secured a significant $10 million contract to provide respiratory protective equipment to the Orange County Fire Authority in Southern California. This deal follows similar contracts with Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City Fire Departments over the past two years.

The centerpiece of the agreement is the G1 SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), featuring:

• 15 U.S. patents
• Advanced connectivity through the FireGrid® system
• Real-time monitoring capabilities
• Integrated thermal imaging camera (iTIC)
• Ability to upgrade with new technologies

The Orange County Fire Authority, serving 23 cities with 78 fire stations and protecting nearly two million residents, will receive the new SCBA units by 2025. MSA Safety, headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, reported 2024 revenues of $1.8 billion and employs over 5,000 associates across 40+ international locations.

Positive

• Secured new $10 million contract with Orange County Fire Authority
• Expanded market presence in Southern California region with third major fire department contract
• G1 SCBA product has 15 U.S. patents, demonstrating strong IP portfolio
• Strong 2024 revenue of $1.8 billion
• Global presence with over 40 international locations
• Product offers upgrade capability, ensuring long-term revenue potential

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

MSA Safety secures $10M contract with Orange County Fire Authority, continuing strategic expansion in Southern California fire service market.

The $10 million contract with Orange County Fire Authority represents a strategic win for MSA Safety, building on their expansion in the Southern California market. This follows similar breathing apparatus contracts with both Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City Fire Departments in the past two years, demonstrating regional market momentum.

While this contract alone represents a modest 0.56% of MSA's $1.8 billion annual revenue (2024), municipal contracts offer valuable stability. The G1 SCBA platform's design allows for technology upgrades over time, creating potential for additional revenue streams throughout the product lifecycle.

The contract delivery timeline extends into 2025, suggesting revenue recognition will occur in next year's financial results. MSA's strategy of targeting major metropolitan fire departments shows effective penetration in high-value markets. This pattern of consecutive wins across Southern California's largest fire departments strengthens MSA's position in the first responder safety equipment sector.

First Responder Safety Equipment Expert

MSA's G1 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus represents advanced respiratory protection technology with 15 U.S. patents. The platform's selection by Orange County Fire Authority followed a comprehensive evaluation process, with technology and connectivity features explicitly cited as decision factors.

The G1 functions as the centerpiece of MSA's Connected Firefighter ecosystem, transmitting critical data including air pressure, battery status, and alarms to incident commanders through the FireGrid system. This real-time monitoring capability significantly enhances firefighter safety management in hazardous environments.

A standout technical feature is the integrated thermal imaging camera (iTIC), which embeds thermal vision directly into each firefighter's equipment rather than requiring teams to share limited handheld devices. This democratizes access to critical thermal vision capabilities across an entire crew.

The Orange County Fire Authority's scale – protecting nearly two million residents across 78 fire stations in 23 cities – makes this a particularly valuable reference implementation. Combined with the previous Los Angeles deployments, MSA has now secured contracts with the three largest fire departments in Southern California, demonstrating strong market acceptance of their respiratory protection technology.

PITTSBURGH, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety, Inc. (NYSE: MSA) today announced it has secured a $10 million contract to provide respiratory protective equipment to the Orange County Fire Authority in Southern California. With this order, MSA continues to strengthen its breathing apparatus market presence in the Southern California region. Over the past two years, MSA Safety has secured similar breathing apparatus contracts with both the Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles City Fire Departments. 

The decision to upgrade Orange County Fire Authority's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) technology was made after a comprehensive evaluation process. Factors that influenced the department's selection of the G1 SCBA were its advanced technology and connectivity features, as well as the ability to upgrade the breathing apparatus with new technologies as they become available.

With 15 U.S. patents, the G1 SCBA is the centerpiece of the MSA Connected Firefighter platform – a suite of safety technologies that work in concert to significantly improve firefighter monitoring, accountability and communication. The SCBA utilizes embedded technology to transmit important data, including cylinder air pressure, battery status and various alarm indicators, to incident commanders via MSA's FireGrid^® system. The FireGrid system is a software service that gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage on-scene fire crews in real time.

"When it comes to protecting first responders, our vision at MSA Safety is to provide fire departments with the most advanced and versatile safety solutions available today," said Bob Apel, MSA Safety Executive Director, Global Fire Service and Digital Experience. "Our G1 breathing apparatus is a fitting example of that vision. The platform provides ongoing value to fire departments because it enables us to continuously add new technologies to the SCBA that enhance firefighter health and safety. That vision is consistent with our growth strategy to be the leading innovator in head-to-toe protection for the fire service."

Also included among the G1 SCBA's advanced features is an integrated thermal imaging camera (iTIC). The iTIC places thermal imaging capability into the hands of individual firefighters, as opposed to sharing a handheld device among multiple firefighters. The camera is part of the SCBA control module that houses a video screen and other electronics that enable many G1 features.

Founded in 1995, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is a regional fire service agency that serves 23 cities and all unincorporated areas within Orange County. With 78 fire stations, the OCFA protects nearly two million residents. It is a premier public safety agency providing superior fire protection and medical emergency services to its communities.

"We are incredibly proud to establish this new partnership with the Orange County Fire Authority," said Joann Serakowski, MSA Safety Vice President, Fire Service – U.S. and Canada. "Most importantly, we're honored the department has entrusted MSA with the responsibility of protecting the men and women who help keep the residents of Orange County safe each day."

Delivery of the new SCBA units is expected to be completed in 2025.

About MSA Safety
MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2024 revenues of $1.8 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of over 5,000 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

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SOURCE MSA Safety

FAQ

How much is the Orange County Fire Authority contract worth for MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA)?

MSA Safety secured a $10 million contract to provide respiratory protective equipment to the Orange County Fire Authority in Southern California, with delivery expected to be completed in 2025.

What are the key features of MSA Safety's G1 SCBA breathing apparatus?

The G1 SCBA features 15 U.S. patents, integrated thermal imaging camera (iTIC), embedded technology to transmit data like cylinder air pressure and battery status, and connects to MSA's FireGrid system for real-time monitoring.

Which major fire departments in Southern California use MSA Safety equipment?

MSA Safety equipment is used by the Orange County Fire Authority, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Los Angeles City Fire Department, following contracts secured over the past two years.

How many fire stations does the Orange County Fire Authority protect with MSA Safety equipment?

The Orange County Fire Authority operates 78 fire stations and protects nearly two million residents across 23 cities and all unincorporated areas within Orange County.

What is MSA Safety's FireGrid system used in the Orange County contract?

FireGrid is MSA Safety's software service that enables incident commanders to evaluate and manage on-scene fire crews in real-time by monitoring data from G1 SCBA units, including air pressure and various alarm indicators.