At Sinclair Fire Academy in Dayton, Ohio, instructors train the next generation of firefighters. Part of that training requires PPE. Sinclair partnered with Gear Wash to help make that journey smoother, safer, and more affordable. Through their rental program that delivers high-quality, NFPA-compliant PPE and streamlined logistics, Gear Wash has become an essential partner in the Academy’s mission. 

Kirk Temple, Program Director at Sinclair, has seen firsthand how the rental program benefits both the college and its students. The college has been involved with Gear Wash for several years, he says, and they keep coming back because of the price and quality service.  

While Gear Wash has over a dozen locations across the country, one of those happens to be right in Dayton. That made it the perfect opportunity for Sinclair to take full advantage of Gear Wash’s rental program. Gear Wash has stepped up to help streamline the gear rental process, treating Sinclair not just as a customer, but as a committed partner. Time and time again, Gear Wash has worked with the college to make PPE rental easy and affordable so that students can worry about their training, not their gear.  

Local Convenience, National Quality 

Temple says other rental gear companies they used in the past were too expensive, so they went looking for other options. Gear Wash, with a facility in Dayton, was a perfect fit in terms of price and location. “Your store is located pretty much in our backyard,” Temple says, making it both a cost-effective and convenient choice for Academy students.  

But it’s not just about location. Temple emphasizes the quality of the gear and the ease of the process. “The quality of the gear is fantastic,” he says. “We don’t have any problem with the quality.” 

A Scalable Solution for a Growing Program 

Sinclair runs about 60 recruits through its program each semester, many of whom require head-to-toe gear. “On average, we’re getting 30 sets of gear head-to-toe,” Temple says. 

For Temple, the rental model is a no-brainer. He says that the college used to store and rent out their own gear, which quickly became a financial and logistical headache.  

With rentals, he says, “we don’t have to store a bunch of gear or worry about out-of-date services and repairs. So we got out of the gear rental industry.” he explains. “It’s a lot easier to know that when a student brings gear in from Gear Wash, it meets the standard. If repairs are needed, they’re done immediately and they can go get another set while they wait for the team to repair it.”  

Overall, he says, not having the overhead of storing gear or worrying about compliance helps students save money. Even more than that, the rental PPE from Gear Wash is fully NFPA compliant, so students can trust that it will provide the protection they need during training.  

Savings and Service 

Temple also cites customer service as a key differentiator. He says the team has been great at meeting the needs of their Academy students, working with the college to streamline the pickup and drop off process.  

He says that aspect, along with the cost savings, makes a huge difference for students. “Our college is really big on keeping the student’s costs down,” he says, adding that the rentals with Gear Wash will get them through Firefighter I and II classes at a great rate.  

Even better, the program integrates with Sinclair’s financial aid system. “If a student receives financial aid, they can go to our campus store, get a voucher, and take that to Gear Wash,” Temple explains. The fact that students can save money is a “big, big selling point.”  

The team at Gear Wash simplified the process with Sinclair. “Gear Wash was on board with us,” Temple says. “It didn’t take a whole lot of work and effort.” 

The commitment to great customer service also extends to getting the gear to and from students each semester. Because of the proximity to the college, students can go directly to Gear Wash for sizing and pickup before the semester begins. Temple says that sizing is consistently good for students—adding that the biggest issue is students not knowing their glove sizes but that Gear Wash helps them get the gear they need regardless. 

At the end of the semester, Sinclair arranges a pickup with Gear Wash so everything comes in all at once. That creates less work for the college and for the students. He says the pickups are “always very prompt and very polite,” and that he hasn’t received any complaints from students about the pickup or drop off schedules.  

A Partnership That Works 

Temple is clear about the value Gear Wash brings, saying that he’s been “very pleased” with the relationship between Sinclair and Gear Wash and that the great relationships and competitive pricing are a differentiator. He concludes: “It’s nice having a vendor in our backyard.” 

Regardless of where an academy is located, Gear Wash is proud to offer high-quality, affordable PPE to students across the country. Our team of experts offers unparalleled customer service. See how we can help you find the perfect fit today!