- Bolton-based Total Fire Group is a market leader in fire risk assessment services, having built a strong reputation over its 20 years of operation.
- The company will join Ranger Fire and Security, where its capabilities will be leveraged to deliver first-class fire safety consultancy services on a national scale.
- Total Fire will help enhance Ranger’s consultancy services, drawing on its track record in supporting social housing providers, housing associations and other national clients.
- Founder Darren Baird, who has held senior roles in the fire service, will continue leading the business while supporting wider Group strategy on mitigating risks for customers.
Tuesday 31st March 2026, London: Ranger Fire and Security has strengthened its fire risk assessment capabilities with the acquisition of Total Fire Group.
A leading fire safety consultancy based in Bolton, the acquisition represents a significant milestone in Ranger’s mission to build a fully integrated, national fire and security platform.
The addition of Total Fire will enable Ranger to combine its existing delivery services with standalone best-in-class risk and consultancy expertise, providing customers with support across the entire lifecycle – from initial risk assessment to design, installation and ongoing safety management – and strengthening Ranger’s position as a comprehensive fire and security partner.
This builds on Ranger’s strategy of delivering services through local ‘hero’ businesses, giving customers the ability to obtain specialist fire risk assessments which they can then directly remedy via the wider Ranger Group.
Established for more than 20 years, Total Fire has built a strong reputation across the North West for delivering high-quality fire risk assessments, fire risk management and consultancy services. The business is widely recognised as a market leader in supporting social housing providers and housing associations, alongside a broad range of commercial and public sector clients.
The business has also developed long-term fire safety partnerships with clients, providing ongoing support, guidance and management of fire risk actions. This added capability to Ranger’s suite of services is particularly important at a time when regulatory requirements continue to evolve and organisations face increasing scrutiny around fire safety, compliance and risk management.
Darren Baird, founder of Total Fire and a former firefighter who held senior roles within the fire service, will remain with the business, continuing to lead its operations while also working closely with the wider Ranger Group. His experience will play a key role in strengthening Ranger’s strategy and will support work to mitigate and manage risk across all of the Group’s customers.
Mark Bridges, CEO of Ranger Fire and Security, said: “Bringing Total Fire Group into Ranger is a critical step in strengthening our overall fire and security offering. As customer expectations and regulatory requirements continue to increase, having deep expertise in fire risk assessment and ongoing risk management is essential.
“Darren Baird and the team at Total Fire will help us to significantly enhance Ranger’s support for customers from the earliest stage of identifying and understanding risk, through to delivering the right solutions and long-term support.
“By working with local ‘hero’ businesses like Total Fire, we can ensure customers receive expert fire risk advice, with any issues seamlessly addressed through our wider team of experts. This strengthens our existing capabilities while unlocking further cross-selling opportunities, as we continue to build a national one-stop solution for all fire and security needs.”
Darren Baird, Founder and Group Director of Total Fire Group, said: “Our focus has always been on helping organisations understand and manage their fire risk in a practical and effective way. By becoming part of Ranger, we can now take that approach further and at a larger scale, combining our consultancy expertise with Ranger’s extensive delivery capabilities.
“There is a clear opportunity to support customers more holistically, from identifying risks and then helping ensure they are properly addressed and managed over time. Being part of Ranger also gives us the platform to expand our reach and bring our services to more customers across the UK.”
The acquisition of Total Fire Group marks Ranger’s 17th acquisition since its formation in early 2024 and the fourth of 2026. It forms part of Ranger’s ongoing strategy to bring together high-quality regional operators to create a platform that is truly national in scope and capable of delivering best-in-class fire and security services across the UK and Ireland.
With backing from Hyperion Equity Partners, Ranger is on a mission to become the leading one-stop provider for fire and security services across the UK and Ireland. Through strategic acquisitions and investment in technology and talent, Ranger offers a comprehensive range of services at a regional and national level, all while providing a seamless customer experience.
