Pye-Barker Fires Up Its California Platform with Arrow Fire Protection Acquisition

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, one of the largest full-service life-safety platforms in the U.S., has acquired Arrow Fire Protection, a seasoned Bay Area specialist. The move strengthens Pye-Barker’s California operations while preserving the reputation and technical competence of a trusted regional provider.

Deal Summary

Acquirer: Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, a national leader in integrated fire protection, life-safety, and security services.

Target: Arrow Fire Protection, a family-owned company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Geographic Footprint: Arrow serves Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties.

Business Profile: The company provides a full suite of fire-protection services - including fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, pumps, hydrants, inspections, testing, maintenance, and life-safety equipment training.

Strategic Rationale: For Pye-Barker, the acquisition enhances its West Coast presence. For Arrow, joining Pye-Barker offers access to more resources and a broader operational platform, while allowing the Arrow team to continue serving its local customer base.

Transaction Representation: Pye-Barker was advised by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.

Industry Context

The fire-safety services industry continues to see robust consolidation. Many local fire-protection firms operate in long-established markets with strong customer trust, but lack the scale or capital to modernize. National platforms like Pye-Barker are acquiring these firms to standardize operations, build regional density, and offer more comprehensive fire-code compliance services (alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers) under one roof.

Regulatory requirements in life-safety (such as inspection and maintenance mandates) provide recurring revenue for fire-safety operators. That stability, combined with cross-selling opportunities across alarm, suppression, and extinguisher services, makes this a compelling roll-up space.

Lower-Middle-Market Roll-Up Perspective

From a private-equity or strategic acquirer standpoint, Pye-Barker’s acquisition of Arrow illustrates key elements of a disciplined roll-up model:

• Legacy Partnering: Rather than simply replace a regional operator, Pye-Barker is partnering with a respected local business, preserving its technical culture and customer relationships.
• Operational Leverage: By folding Arrow into its larger network, Pye-Barker can apply its systems - for back office, compliance, training, and procurement - to enhance efficiency.
• Scalable Growth: This addition supports broader expansion in California, a market Pye-Barker has targeted through other acquisitions (e.g., MS Fire Protection).
• Value Creation Without Disruption: Arrow’s technicians and customer base remain local, limiting disruption. For Pye-Barker, the incremental cost is justified by the scalable platform benefits.
• Acquirer of Choice: Pye-Barker’s continued M&A momentum underlines its strategy of being a “values-aligned” acquirer - prioritizing legacy preservation alongside growth.

Why This Sector Is Attractive for Roll-Ups

• Fragmented Market: Many regional fire-protection firms remain independent, making them natural targets.
• Recurring Services: Inspection, testing, maintenance, and certification create dependable cash flow.
• Regulatory Demand: Strict fire-code compliance requirements drive recurring customer engagement.
• Cross-Sell Potential: Platforms that combine alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers can deliver full fire-safety solutions, boosting customer lifetime value.
• Operational Scale: Centralization of training, procurement, and logistics offers margin upside.

Conclusion

Pye-Barker’s acquisition of Arrow Fire Protection represents a thoughtful expansion into a core California market. For Pye-Barker, it enhances its technical and geographic footprint; for Arrow, it offers growth opportunities while respecting its heritage. This deal is another example of how fire-safety platforms are scaling through legacy-based partnerships, rather than pure arbitrage - aligning values, preserving relationships, and building for long-term service excellence.

For investors and fire-safety operators alike, it underscores the clear playbook: consolidating strong regional players under a broader national platform with capital, systems, and vision.