1736
Benjamin Franklin creates the Union Fire Company (first volunteer fire department). Prior to this, citizens bought into “Fire Clubs” where citizens had to buy into the service. To gather the 30 volunteer firemen, Franklin wrote in the local newspaper: “An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure”.

1879
Henry S. Parmelee patented the automatic fire sprinkler.
Be it known that I, HENRY S. PARMELEE, of the city and county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Fire- Extinguishers; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.
- H.S. Parmelee

1881
1881

1885
1881

1890
1881

1917
1881

1918
1919

1925
1928

1939
Ansul purchases DuGas, a small struggling manufacturer of dry chemical fire protection equipment. The DuGas brand is predecessor to today’s RED LINE.

1946
Jack Cocke and Company opens in Mobile, Alabama and expands with offices in Pensacola, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana.

1958
Chemtron Corporation introduces high-pressure CO2.

1960s
Halon 1301 Systems are introduced to the market.

1970
The Hiller Companies purchases Schubert Offshore in Texas, Florida and Louisiana.

1981

1985
The Hiller Companies expands with a new office in the Chesapeake, Virginia area.

1987
The Montreal Protocol phases out ozone-depleting substances like Halon 1301.

1990s
Kidde introduces FM-200, an alternative to ozone-depleting products like Halon 1301.

1990
Securiplex patents its water mist fire protection system, which uses water and air to generate a fine water droplet that is highly effective in suppressing fires quickly and with minimal business interruption.

1996
The Hiller Company expands with a branch office in Wilmington, Massachusetts.

2003

2003
3M patents 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid, an environmentally safe alternative to Halon 1301.

2006
The Hiller Companies expands with a new office in Charleston, South Carolina.

2010
The Hiller Companies expands with a new office in the Birmingham, Alabama area.

2012
2014
The Hiller Companies expands with new offices in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Timeline content for illustrative purposes only. Trademarks and patents, are the intellectual property of their respective companies and any misuse or misattribution is not intentional.