Not long ago, Lake County Firefighters had to literally rely on yelling to each other and on the radio when they were all geared up in their bunker gear fighting a house fire, searching for someone inside a burning building, or mediating a hazardous material incident. 

But thanks to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation donation of 46 Epic voice amplifiers and 210 mounting brackets for self contained breathing apparatus, worth more than $18,000, Lake Firefighters can easily "talk" to each other now during these critical emergency situations. The voice amplifiers enhance communications between fire fighters and increase efficiency and overall safety. "You can imagine when you are yelling to someone through a mask, it makes you very difficult to understand and be heard, and it increases everyone's stress levels making the overall incident more stressful and challenging" reports Lt. Brian Gamble, Vice President of the Lake County Firefighters Local 3990. "These voice amps allow you to speak at a normal level, and keep the normally high stress level from going even higher. We are very grateful of Firehouse Subs program that provided these to our firefighters. In these tight budget years, life saving items like this are always the first thing to be cut from a budget. Thanks to Firehouse Subs, we were able to put these voice amps on all our apparatus. This increases firefighter safety and improves rescue and emergency operations."

In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs has given $6.4 million to hometown heroes in 36 states and Puerto Rico, including more than $1.3 million in Florida.

Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to guests for $2. Donation canisters on register counters explain the non-profit’s mission and collect spare change, while the Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar. All funds raised benefit the Foundation.

ABOUT FIREHOUSE SUBS

Firehouse Subs® is a fast casual restaurant chain with a passion for Hearty and Flavorful Food, Heartfelt Service and Public Safety. Founded by former firefighters and brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service, the highest quality meats and cheeses piled higher, steaming hot subs, and its commitment to saving lives through the creation of Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The founders are the real deal, the food is their creation, and the company is built upon a family of franchise operators who share their same passion for serving others. Firehouse Subs consistently ranks No. 1 among fast casual brands in the categories of food quality, taste and flavor, and friendly service; for the last two years Franchise Business Review has ranked it No. 1 in franchisee satisfaction, and in 2012, the brand earned first place honors in the sandwich category in the Nation’s Restaurant News Consumer Picks study.