This August 1st in California’s Central Valley, Tempest will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. The family owned company continues to be the leading manufacturer of Positive Pressure Power Blowers and proponent of Positive Pressure Ventilation and Attack, a tactic now used by Fire Departments around the world to ventilate heat, toxic gases and smoke away from firefighters and potential victims.
25 years ago, the company was a small operation of two men, working diligently to design a safer, higher performance inflator fan which hot air balloonists use to inflate their balloons. Shortly after, applying some good ol’ yankee ingenuity, owners Dexter Coffman and Don Hamman found another use for their tool. This time it was in the fire industry, helping firefighters replace the potentially deadly environment surrounding a fire, to one that could sustain life. Since then, Dexter and Tempest have spent their time promoting the fruits of Positive Pressure. The company now provides tools such as their Power Blower, VentMaster Chainsaw, MVU, Shadow Smoke Machine and Tempest Fireco Tower around the world, with products being used by FD’s in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Dexter Coffman states:
Over the 25 years, I have met many dedicated firefighters who have embraced PPV & PPA. They’ve put their careers on the line in teaching firefighters to safely use ‘Air as a Tool’ in order to clear a hostile environment of heat, gases and smoke. Without their dedication and commitment, PPV would have never been accepted. I am proud of their dedication and willingness to step forward. Because of them, we have been able to dramatically change firefighting worldwide.
Although the company has grown tremendously since this day, 25 years ago, they still do business in a very similar way. Every Tempest Blower is manufactured right here in the US, and every employee is active in helping support Tempest’s commitment to firefighters and customers. As one individual told them recently, “Tempest is the only company I’ve come across in which even the President, helps cover the phones when customers call in.” This is just a small testament to their proud commitment.
For information about Tempest Technology Corp. or their products and services, you can visit their website at www.tempest-edge.com or call them at 800.346.2143.
