News Archives - Davis Ulmer Fire Protection

Celebrating 20 Years of Growth in Life Safety with APi Group

A Milestone Anniversary

September 30, 2025, marks 20 years since Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Co. joined APi Group Inc., a nationwide network of fire protection and specialty construction companies. At the time, Davis-Ulmer operated four branches in Western New York and had already earned a reputation for industry leadership, having expanded in 1996 to include top-tier fire suppression and alarm brands and its own Special Hazard Alarm and Detection division.

A Legacy of Expertise

That milestone is built on over a century of expertise. Founded in Buffalo in 1923 by Herman Ulmer and Joseph Davis, Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Co. grew from a local sprinkler provider into a trusted leader in life safety. Under the leadership of the Ulmer family, the company steadily broadened its capabilities, diversifying into fire protection, suppression, and alarm solutions. (View a list of all current services.)

A Mission That Endures

Guided by its mission—to be the leading single-source fire protection company in the Northeast by providing quality products and services at fair and equitable rates—Davis-Ulmer has maintained a reputation for excellence and integrity for more than 100 years.

A Transformative Partnership

Building on its strong foundation and reputation for excellence, Davis-Ulmer’s partnership with APi marked the start of a transformative era.

Growth Through Collaboration

Joining APi opened new doors—connecting Davis-Ulmer to a powerful network of like-minded companies, resources, and expertise. Over the past two decades, this collaboration has transformed Davis-Ulmer into the DU Family of Companies with more than 18 valued local brands and 33 branch locations across the East Coast and Midwest, offering comprehensive fire protection, alarm, suppression, and security solutions to customers of all sizes. The DU Family of Companies shares decades of expertise, a commitment to safety, and a shared purpose: protecting what people value most.

Leadership-Driven Culture

A cornerstone of this growth is APi Group’s leadership-driven culture. Guided by its central premise—success happens only when our branches and field leaders are successful—APi invests deeply in leadership development at every level. This philosophy has created an entrepreneurial environment where innovation thrives, teams collaborate across brands, and customer service reaches new heights.

Voices of Leadership

Former Davis-Ulmer President Steve Ulmer, now Senior Vice President of Safety Service at APi Group Inc., reflects:

“One of the greatest impacts APi has had on Davis-Ulmer is in leadership. The knowledge and training around leading teams and leading yourself has been invaluable. APi’s commitment to building great leaders has paralleled our success as a company.”

As we celebrate this 20-year milestone, we’re proud of the journey that brought us here: from a four-branch sprinkler company in Western New York to a trusted life safety leader with a national presence. (View all our current locations.)

Ulmer adds:

“I couldn’t be more proud of how Davis-Ulmer has evolved, and it’s all thanks to our team members. We started with four branches in New York and have grown into a leading fire protection service provider across the East Coast and Midwest. And yet, the camaraderie and spirit still feel like a family-owned business. My father and grandfather could never have imagined what this would become—and we’re not done yet. The best is still to come.”

Looking Ahead

Here’s to the next chapter of protecting lives and property, together.

Fire Prevention Week 2022

Fire Prevention Week 2022 is October 9 – 15^th. This year is 100^th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week. Starting in 1922, FPW has been sponsored as a public observance by the NFPA. President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance in 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country.

FPW is observed during the week of October 9^th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire which began on October 8, 1871. This fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

During Fire Prevention Week, the focus is on educating the public about fire safety in order to decrease fire casualties. This year’s FPW theme is, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.™”

“Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.™”

Home fires burn faster than ever. During a home fire, you may have as little as 2 minutes to safely escape the fire after the smoke alarm goes off. The safety of you and your loved ones depends on early warning from smoke alarm and advance planning. Plan and practice your home fire escape plan before a fire occurs. Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out.

Action #1: Prepare your smoke alarms

Your smoke alarms can sense smoke before you can. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home to keep your family safe.

Test your smoke alarms by pushing the test button. If the alarm makes a loud beep, beep, beep sound, it is working. If there is no sound or the sound is quiet, replace the battery.
If your smoke alarm is older than 10 years old, it should be replaced.
Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
If your smoke alarm makes a “chirp,” that means it needs a new battery. Change the battery right away.
Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound of the alarm and what to do when it sounds.

Action #2: Create & Practice Your Home Fire Escape Plan

Make a home fire escape plan so that everyone in your household knows what to do when fire occurs. You should practice your home escape plan twice a year.

Draw a map of all the rooms in your home.
Mark two exits from each room (usually a door and a window). Mark a path from each exit to the outside.
Include the location of all smoke alarms in your home.
Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home where everyone will meet upon exiting.
Add “911” or the local emergency number to your plan.
Plan to call that number from a neighbor’s phone or a cell phone once you get outside.

If you are interested in learning more about Fire Prevention Week and fire safety, visit the NFPA’s website.

What Exactly Is Fire Protection?

Fire protection refers to measures and practices that are taken to prevent destruction and major impacts that may occur from a fire. Fire protection lessens the unwanted effects of a fire and works to save lives and valuable properties. The measures taken may include studying the risks and causes of fires, research and development of equipment production, designing, installing, maintaining, and inspecting of fire systems, and much more. There are so many things that go into fire protection that all work to save the lives of people and their property.

Are You a Team Player and Looking for a New Challenge Where the Work You Do Makes an Impact on Other People’s Lives?

Working at a fire protection company can be considered a rewarding challenge. At Davis-Ulmer, we are like a family that works to protect other families by providing them with all of their fire protection needs. At Davis-Ulmer, we develop leaders that put forth innovative solutions and the finest customer service. From our technicians, to our designers, to our administration, everyone works together to give our customers the best fire protection products and services.

Albany Career Day

Looking for a career change in the Albany, New York area? Davis-Ulmer is hosting a career day at their office located in Albany, NY. Walk-ins are welcome between 11am and 5pm! Come visit to learn more about Davis-Ulmer, the team, and the career opportunities.

When: September 14th and 15th from 11am to 5pm

Where: 25 Post Road, Suite 4 Albany, NY 12205

Why Join the Davis-Ulmer Team?

At Davis-Ulmer we provide an enjoyable and rewarding working experience for our employees. At DU we find importance in our companies’ cultures and values. We also provide training to develop our employees into giving the highest level of fire protection services they can give. The Davis-Ulmer company is dedicated to developing leaders who can make a difference in the fire protection industries. Our employees are family which is why our benefits are not temporary but are ingrained within the levels of our organization.

Find Your DU Career Fit

We have positions open across all of our locations which include New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, and Florida. Open positions vary among locations, but these positions include: administration, design, technician, sales, and much more.

Hiring the following positions at Albany, NY:

We are looking for individuals that are:

Team players
Hard working
Innovative
Have ability to adapt to new technology
Are customer oriented

Are You A Good Fit for the DU Team?

If you are interested in one of our available positions and believe you would be a good fit to the Davis-Ulmer family, then we would love to meet you! Join us on September 14th or 15th to meet the team, learn more about what we do, and how you can benefit our team. Refreshments and snacks will be served, and walk-ins are welcome! Resumes and references are appreciated. We look forward to meeting you!

*If you are not located in the Albany, NY area, but are looking to join the Davis-Ulmer family, visit our careers page to see our current job openings. Apply today!

Sprinkler System Saves Yet Again

Whether you are at home or in a commercial building when a smoke detector goes off, you’re alerted of a possible fire and potential danger. However, being alerted of a fire will not put a fire out.

Fires can be extremely difficult to put out, and whether one happens in a large commercial building or in a home a smoke detector will only alert you of it, making a sprinkler system your best go-to for practicing fire safety.

Sprinkler systems don’t just warn people of fires as smoke detectors do, they work on putting fires out.

Recently, a sprinkler system put out a fire in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A grease fire started when a man was cooking his dinner on the stove and grease splashed out, starting a fire.

The flames quickly spread through his kitchen and melted the microwave and cabinets above the stove, spreading to the ceiling. The flames then triggered a sprinkler head in the man’s kitchen, before the fire could do more serious damage. The sprinkler system successfully put out the fire, saving the man’s kitchen, the man’s home, and possibly his life. According to the firemen in the area, if the sprinkler system hadn’t doused the flames, the fire could have spread quickly causing mass destruction.

Fire Sprinkler Systems Help Prevent Fires from Spreading

In residential areas and developments, homes are often close together. A serious fire in one home could cause damage to a home down the road. In this case, the sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading to other homes.

If you don’t have sprinkler systems in your home or commercial building at this time, learn more about the benefits of installing sprinkler systems offered by Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection Services. We are your full-service fire protection company and work with customers in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Holiday Season Fire Safety

During the holiday season, the risk of a house fire tremendously increases. With fireplaces blazing, candles glowing, lights twinkling, and ovens baking, the holiday season brings many fire threats along with it. It is important that you and your loved ones remain safe while enjoying all of your holiday traditions.

Oh Christmas Tree!

If you have a real Christmas tree in your home, it is very important to water your tree daily. If a tree is not watered, it can develop brittle branches and become extremely dry. A dry tree is a major fire hazard and it’s important to keep your tree hydrated. You should also keep your tree a safe distance from your fireplace along with any candles or matches that might easily catch a flame.

Merry and Bright Holiday Lights

Holiday lights are beautiful and many families put them both inside and outside each passing year. However, both indoor and outdoor holiday lights can pose as a fire threat if they are not put up or cared for correctly. When putting holiday lights up, throw away any lights that are broken or frayed. When you go to bed or leave your home, you should turn lights off, especially indoor ones. Many outdoor lights do come with a timer which can be a great option if you aren’t home often.

Candles Burning Bright

Many people enjoy burning candles on a regular basis, and candles that smell like sugar cookies and evergreen trees tempt most people during the holiday season. If you are going to burn candles, you need to make sure that they are a safe distance away from curtains, Christmas trees, or anything else that could catch on fire. If you have little ones visiting you during the holiday season, consider using battery-operated candles for your own peace of mind.

Festive Foods

Many people do a lot of cooking during the holiday season. In the midst of wrapping gifts, cleaning the house, and decking the halls, many people walk away from their stove and leave it unattended. If you are the lucky one cooking this holiday season, the best thing you can do is stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on things. Many oven fires occur during the holiday season and most of them are due to people walking away from the kitchen.

We want you and your family to have a safe and fire-free holiday season. The best gift you can give yourself this year is a sprinkler system, Davis Ulmer can help. We are your local fire protection company and serve New York and surrounding areas.

Fire Companies Set Controlled Fires for National Fire Prevention Month

October is National Fire Prevention Month and many fire companies educated their local communities on fire safety throughout the month. It is great to see people making fire safety a focus in their communities and fire companies in Illinois focused specifically on sprinkler systems.

Various fire departments in Northern Illinois educated the public on fire safety and fire prevention in a unique way this October. Fire companies in Northern Illinois actually set controlled fires as demonstrations so the public could understand the benefits of fire sprinklers.

Sprinkled Rooms vs. Non-Sprinkled Rooms

The fires were set outside in two staged rooms that were totally furnished like a living room. One of the rooms had sprinklers installed and the other room did not. People were able to feel the level of heat coming from the room and how quickly it spread in the room without the fire sprinklers installed. They were able to see how quickly the room with the sprinklers controlled and cooled the fire where the other room quickly got out of control.

fire prevention month

Fire Protection Systems Save Lives

The demonstrations were made possible with the help of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the proven performance of fire sprinklers. They helped local fire companies host a variety of fire and sprinkler demonstrations throughout the month of October. They plan to assist with a total of 53 demonstrations in 2016, driving attention to the important of sprinkler systems and the roles they play in fire safety.

These demonstrations gave the local fire departments a chance to talk to the public about preventing fires, the benefits of smoke alarms, the advantages of sprinkler systems, and fire evacuation methods.

In Illinois, one hundred communities actually require fire sprinklers in new homes that are being built. Illinois has made fire safety a focus in their communities and have established the benefits of sprinkler systems in not just businesses, but homes as well. If you’re looking to install sprinkler systems in your business or your home, contact Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection Systems, we can help. We are your full-service fire protection company and work with customers in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Domino’s Pizza Helping to Spread the Word About Fire Safety

family eating pizza If you are a fan of Domino’s Pizza, you may have already noticed the newest addition to the company’s takeout pizza boxes – a flyer full of fire safety tips that reminds customers to check their smoke detectors’ batteries when they turn their clocks forward for daylight saving time this weekend.

The flyer was created in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association and will run throughout the month of March to help spread the word to families throughout the US.

CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS

With 38 percent of home fire deaths occurring in homes without smoke detectors and another 21 percent occurring in homes with dead or malfunctioning ones, it is extremely important to take time to check your smoke detector regularly and change its batteries when they run low. This simple check takes less than a minute of your time and could end up saving your life and the lives of the ones you love.

DOMINO’S PIZZA TEAMS UP WITH NFPA

For more than eight years, Domino’s has been teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to help prevent home fires, and this year we at Davis-Ulmer would like to add another item to your daylight savings to-do list. If you have not yet had your fire sprinkler maintenance performed this year, please take a few moments to schedule your annual sprinkler check-up.

Don’t have a sprinkler system installed in your home? Spring is the perfect time to plan an installation. To learn more about Davis-Ulmer’s services and to request a quote, visit us online or contact the location nearest you. We serve New York and the surrounding states.

Sprinkler System Suppresses Fire in Oxford’s Covered Market

Here at Davis Ulmer, few things make us happier than when a sprinkler system saves the day. And just two days ago in Oxford, England a fire sprinkler system prevented an important piece of the historic area from going up in flames. On the morning of Monday, December 28, 2015, a refrigerator in Oxford’s Covered Market set on fire, but was quickly put out by the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue team – with the help of the shop’s fire sprinkler system.

According to Rewley Road Fire Station Watch Manager Simon Piper, “If it not been for the sprinkler system, it is extremely likely that this incident would have spread throughout the Covered market, causing great loss to this heritage property and the local economy.”

The Oxford Covered Market is home to a wide variety of shops and has an important place in the city’s heart. This historical building would have been a tragic loss, which was thankfully avoided thanks to the safety precautions taken by business owners.

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS CAN HELP SAVE LIVES

Regardless of where you live or operate a business, a sprinkler system is an important way to protect yourself and those around you from a potentially dangerous situation. Accidents happen all the time and fires can spread quickly, destroying property and harming individuals nearby.

DAVIS-ULMER: HELPING KEEP PEOPLE SAFE SINCE 1946

With 2016 just a couple days away, Davis Ulmer encourages families and businesses across New York and New Jersey to have fire sprinkler systems installed or checked for annual maintenance. With eight locations throughout the area, we are happy to help keep your home or business safe. To learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment, contact the location nearest you today. We work with customers in the Northeast region of the United States.

Welcome Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp.

On October 9, 2015, Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp. joined the APi family, helping APi Group and Davis Ulmer to expand their coverage across Eastern Pennsylvania and West Central Florida. Founded by Scott Treverton in 1992, Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp. is a well-rounded fire protection company with two offices; one in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania and the other in Brooksville, Florida. The company’s Pennsylvania office provides service to Northeast Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey and the southern tier of New York. Their Florida office services the Central Florida area.

“By joining the APi and Davis Ulmer family, Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp. will be afforded new resources and opportunities for the growth of the business and success of our employees,” said Beach Lake President, Mike Treanor.

NEW CONSTRUCTION, RETROFIT, FULL-SERVICE, BEACH LAKE DOES IT ALL

A company that excels in new construction, renovation, retrofit and service work for warehouse and distribution, pharmaceutical, hospital, nursing home, industrial, residential and retail markets, Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp. is a great asset to the Davis Ulmer team.

To learn more about Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp., contact their office today at 570-729-7713. A third generation family company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, Davis Ulmer provides full service fire sprinkler, suppression, alarm and security systems to customers across New York State and in Northeast Pennsylvania. To have fire safety equipment installed in your home or business, or for service and maintenance, Contact our affiliate Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp. or by calling your local office. To learn more about Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp., contact their office today at 570-729-7713.

A third generation family company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, Davis Ulmer provides full-service fire sprinkler, suppression, alarm and security systems to customers across New York State and in Northeast Pennsylvania. To have fire safety equipment installed in your home or business, or for service and maintenance, Contact our affiliate Beach Lake Sprinkler Corp. or by calling your local office.

Tragedy Strikes Lansing

In this blog, we have written about many issues surrounding the importance of fire prevention and other safety measures. We feel it’s our duty to educate the public any way we can and that includes writing blog posts. At Davis Ulmer, we also feel very strongly about firefighters and the brave work they do day in day out. Without firefighters, society would simply fall apart. We’re not being overdramatic here; we really mean it. Sometimes though, these heroic men and women perish in the line of duty. But what does line of duty mean?

Well, it means making the world a safer and better place, as was the case with Lansing’s Dennis Rodeman; the ex-marine was a firefighter through and through, whether or not he was fighting fires. Sadly, he was killed on Wednesday in a deliberate hit-and-run crash, as reported in this USA Today article.

Ken Palmer and Matt Mencarini report, “Rodeman, 35, was a seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department. He was married two months ago and expecting his first child. When the incident happened at about 3:40 p.m ET, he was collecting money for muscular dystrophy research near the intersection of Cedar Street and Jolly Road, police and city officials said.”

This is a tragedy. We would like to extend our regards to Rodeman’s family and friends. He was a good man and “a joy to work around,” according to his colleagues.