Get to know us

Born of a passion for the craft of firefighting and by an individual who enjoys modifying tools and equipment, Old Breed Fire Helmets is formed by a 15 year student of the fire service. Someone who loves the tradition of the fire service and seeks incorporation of that rich history in new and exciting products. Initially formed to supply new reproduction versions of old, out of production parts for the Cairns 880. The company has expanded to include more products and services as interest has been displayed. Now offering new and used accessories, liners and suspensions, and vintage reproduction parts.

Soon to be offering new helmet builds, back to vintage specifications and more. We’re continually looking for more ways to manufacture our own products and will continue to provide a broader product line within the helmet space for the fire service. In general, our products are built for restoration projects, display or light duty training environments, as our products do not meet OSHA or NFPA standards at the present time.

Where Does the Name Come From?

The name is inspired by the book “With the Old Breed” by E.B. Sledge, a United States Marine who served in the Pacific theatre during WWII. In this book he gave honor to the Marines who served in some of the worst fighting of that theatre prior to his joining by calling them the “Old Breed”, and considered himself lucky to serve beside some of them in the battles that followed. Moved by this, the term easily translates to the fire service, so this is our nod to those who came before us, both in service and those who passionately create the products that move the mission forward.

Our mission

Our mission is to honor the proud traditions of firefighting by crafting high-quality, reliable fire helmets and parts that support the service firefighter’s provide. Driven by a commitment to innovation, our current offerings will serve restoration and training needs while we work toward the goal of development of the lightest weight certified helmet on the market.

Owner/CEO

Alex is a dedicated father and husband, passionate about the fire service. A self described “tinkerer” with a background in manufacturing, he has a mindset that strives for continuous improvement, and experimenting with different methods to accomplish goals.

Alex Needham

Founder/Owner