By Kris Capps
It’s not easy for 1 retail store to appeal to so many different people in so many different communities, but Arctic Fire and Safety excels at it.
The longtime Alaska business is comfortable helping big businesses, nonprofits, oil and mining companies, fire prevention agencies and even individual Christmas shoppers. Their desire to help fill all customer needs has created a loyal and satisfied customer base that has brought in business for the past 40 years.
Shane Burnett is president of Arctic Fire and Safety, 702 30th Avenue in Fairbanks, and Dave Lumley is the longtime general manager.
Arctic Fire and Safety has connections with so many different organizations that as many as 34 people might work for and with them at any 1 time.
“It’s kind of like a blanket toss,” Shane says. “We like it.”
The business specializes in safety supplies and services for individuals, as well as military and industrial sectors.
“We offer a culmination of various products, hand-picked, that are suitable for us in Fairbanks and surrounding areas,” Shane says. “That includes fire extinguishers and suppression systems. We have service teams that go to customer locations all over the state.
“We service equipment that saves lives.”
Currently, the store carries items from 1,600 vendors.
“We get you the right answer and the right equipment for the right situation,” Dave says. “The right expertise at the right time.”
This includes carrying the largest inventory of safety supplies and fire related items in the state, from personal protective equipment to hazmat cleanup and containment supplies to gas detection equipment. Fire extinguishers—servicing and recharging—are also on the list.
Arctic Fire and Safety is the only Department of Transportation certified hydro-test facility in the Interior.
Shane’s journey to Arctic Fire and Safety began with him working in the oil fields to pay for college.
“Following 3 seasons in the oil fields, I went to school at the University of Denver in Colorado,” he recalls. “Somehow my father saw the value in my business management and marketing degrees.”
His dad, Wally Burnett, invited him to come home to Fairbanks and get involved in the family business. Wally had been a part of Arctic Fire and Safety since 1972, as operations manager and general manager.
Shane joined the business in 1993. 7 years later, Shane took on the role of president of the company.
Regardless of who is in charge, the overall mission of Arctic Fire and Safety has always remained the same—dedicated to providing exceptional customer service.
“That’s where we put most of our effort,” Shane says.
In all the years the business has been open, friendships and connections have been forged, and those connections have, in many cases, lasted through more than one generation. It’s the way “old” Fairbanks continues today, he notes.
It’s that excellent customer service and dependability that keeps those connections strong.
“It’s nice to be able to take care of customers beyond what they expected,” he says.
Arctic Fire and Safety also offers classes on occasion.
“We find where the needs are, and we fill those niches,” Shane says. “I believe that has strengthened a lot of peoples’ understanding of how to use products a little better.”
The business provides “tool talks” at customer locales. Sometimes classes are offered in 1st aid, CPR, fire extinguisher use and hands-on fire extinguisher training. School kids often benefit from these classes as well.
“It’s all based on need,” he says. “With our kind of community we can’t set a calendar. It’s availability by need.”
This Alaska-centric philosophy and knowing what safety gear works best in every Alaska situation and season has led to the company being informally dubbed “Arctic Tough.” Shane enjoys that complimentary Alaska spin.
“We like the word of mouth,” he says. “It always comes back positive.”
“The saying we use around here is, talk to the customer and treat the customer the way you want to be talked to and treated,” Dave says. “We make you feel at home, you get the product you need, we guide you through your choices.”
Arctic Fire and Safety also created Arctic Signs and Graphics to support safety for customer projects, which includes logo design, manufacture and installation.
“We make sure they have proper signage,” Shane says.
Arctic Fire and Safety even visits some of its regular Interior customers on a weekly basis, stocking safety vending machines that carry everything from gloves to glasses and other safety items.
“In the unforeseen event of an emergency, they don’t have to call us, they have it on-site,” Shane says. “They have exactly what they need to have people protected.”
“We’ve become a part of their supply chain for the community,” Dave says.
The safety vending machines are programmed so employees can acquire products with a sweep of their identification badges, not by dropping quarters or dollar bills into a slot.
“Everyone is accountable for what they use,” Shane says.
Safety items change in the vending machines, depending on the season.
It’s not unusual for Arctic Fire and Safety employees to make themselves available 24/7, especially during emergency situations. With that philosophy, it can be difficult to close the doors, even just for inventory.
“Last year, we were doing inventory, and we shut our doors,” Shane recalls. “But we literally left the back door open.”
That was a good thing, because a group showed up, seeking supplies to deal with an active oil spill. Arctic Fire and Safety had everything they needed—drums to contain the oil, soil absorbents, respiratory equipment and safety gloves.
Employees filled a truck with the products needed to curtail the spill and held onto the invoice for another time. Handling the spill was a greater priority than paying for the items.
Another time, Shane got an 11 p.m. call about an emergency at the Alaska Pipeline. He was taking a shower at the time, but 15 minutes later, he was on scene.
“At that point, we went on 24-hour standby,” he says. “We had people on staff 24 hours a day for that pipeline.”
That level of service extends to mines and other businesses across the state, not just in the Interior.
“If they call us, we are down there within hours of the phone calls,” Shane says.
“That’s why 34 people come into play,” he says, referring to his blanket toss analogy. “It takes a few people to toss that blanket.”
A lot of business comes from larger companies, but increasingly and especially during the holidays, employees look up from the counter and meet new customers.
These people are shopping the shelves of the showroom, looking for head lamps, batteries, hand warmers, ear plugs, safety glasses and more. The inventory of safety glasses is extensive, including safety glasses designed specifically for women. The showroom is filled with all kinds of items. It is a surprising Christmas shopping hot spot.
“It’s all tailored to what customers ask for,” Dave says.
Lately, there has been a surge in business, and Arctic Fire and Safety is seeing some familiar faces.
“Some service groups are coming back from the North Slope,” Shane says. “We’re starting to hear from people we haven’t heard from for about 10 years.”
Supporting development is an important part of the Fairbanks economy and helps families in the community thrive, he adds.
During the 40 years Arctic Fire and Safety has been in business, it has seen a lot of changes. New development is welcome, Shane says.
“We’re watching a very busy construction year come to an end,” Shane says. “A great winter season is starting up. This just allows us to live our Alaska lives the way we want to, and stay here.”
Shane certainly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Fairbanks will always be home.
“There’s only 3 roads out of here and none of them have a beach or palm trees at the ends,” he says. “So, I’m not going.”
For more information on Arctic Fire and Safety, email Arctic Fire, call (907) 452-7806, or visit the showroom at 702 30th Avenue.