KISTLER O’BRIEN ACQUIRES STARK’S FIRE PROTECTION

Bethlehem,Pa., – (February 12, 2010) –

Kistler O’Brien Fire Protection of Bethlehem, Pa., has acquired Stark’s Fire Protection located in Mountville, Pa., and will begin servicing Stark’s current customers immediately.

            Kistler O’Brien is a Northeast area leader in fire protection and suppression with more than 150 employees serving more than 20,000 customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York. 

            Stark’s Fire Protection was started by Charles Robert “Bob” Stark in 1992 and is a family-owned and operated fire protection and suppression company offering suppression systems, inspection, installation and portable fire extinguisher services to businesses in the south and central Pennsylvania regions. Today, the company serves nearly 500 customers in the Lancaster, Harrisburg and York areas and is run by Trevor Stark who acquired the company in 2007 when the elder Stark retired.

            According to Eric F. Blasser, president of Kistler O’Brien Fire Protection, Trevor Stark will remain a presence in the region to current and potential customers as a Kistler O’Brien field sales and service representative. In addition, Kistler O’Brien service and inspection technicians will begin managing customer accounts immediately with no interruption of service.

“Stark’s offered products very much in line with Kistler O’Brien’s and this purchase strengthens our presence in Pennsylvania’s south and central regions,” said Blasser. It is also an opportunity for Mr. Stark to enhance what is available to his customers in an ever changing and competitive landscape.”

“The sale provided an important next phase for Stark’s customers,” said Trevor Stark, owner. “Kistler O’Brien’s core values are closely aligned to those that have driven Stark’s business since our founding including dedication to safety, honesty and respect, superior customer service and excellence in performance and Kistler offers a more diverse product line and a large service team of professionals to handle accounts .”