Protecting the Moments for Over 65 Years

Many great things were born in the '50s. Color TVs, microwave ovens, Velcro, bubble wrap - and the company that created the first residential smoke alarm. In 1958, three friends, Harold Burke, Howard Roberts, and Wayne Kimberline, set out to develop a commercial smoke detector. With the goal to make the world a safer place and a gain a collective understanding of a market need to help realize that goal. Burke, Roberts, and Kimberline (B, R, & K), brought their first smoke alarm, the 64TP, to market in 1964.

From releasing the first battery powered smoke detector that received an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing, to being the first to retail market with a battery-operated smoke alarm, to developing the first dual photoelectric/ionization alarm and beyond, we've had a long legacy of firsts. And through it all we've remained dedicated to helping communities and educating people about fire safety.

In 1976, just as the United States was celebrating their bicentennial, the name First Alert was born - our retail brand. First Alert, was celebrating its first official year. And what a celebration it was. In that year, we began selling two alarms: a hardwired-only smoke alarm and a hardwired with battery backup alarm. Since then, we've continued to innovate, providing reliable products that have transformed the ways Americans live. For example in 1993, we introduced the first battery-operated carbon monoxide (CO) alarm, no doubt saving many lives. And we're proud that we've helped arm homes across the country with lifesaving CO and combination smoke and CO alarms.

In the past five decades First Alert has pushed the envelope in product innovations. And while we've ventured successfully into an ever-expanding home safety market, we've always stayed true to our roots and our flagship brand, harnessing technology to build the most reliable fire safety products for the people who put their trust - and their lives - in our hands. We spend our days and our dollars to protect their homes, their belongings, and above all their families. And that dedication to consumers and communities has helped build our reputation as America's most trusted brand in fire safety.

Today, we're forging partnerships and winning awards as we find more ways to keep consumers safe. We collaborate with retailers, schools, firefighters, and communities to raise awareness and educate children and adults alike about fire safety and the best ways to be optimally protected. Through action-packed, hands-on events and activations, we bring real-world tips into the everyday lives of people throughout our communities.

Reliability, quality, trustworthiness, and dedication to helping save lives continue to be the cornerstones of who we are. We continue to build upon our legacy of firsts, following in the footsteps of our founders, making the world a safer place - one home, one family, one life at a time. We're proud of what we've accomplished, and we're happy to serve the people who count on us to protect them every day.