Ranger expands risk assessment services
Ranger Fire and Security has acquired Bolton-based Total Fire Group to strengthen its fire risk assessment capability, with the deal announced in London on Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Ranger said the acquisition adds fire risk assessment, fire risk management and consultancy services to its existing offer and brings Total Fire Group into the wider business.
Total Fire Group has operated for more than 20 years and works with social housing providers, housing associations, commercial clients and public sector organisations.
The business also provides ongoing support, guidance and management of fire risk actions through long-term client partnerships.
Ranger said the acquisition is intended to link specialist fire risk assessment work with the wider Group’s delivery services, including follow-on remedial support through its regional businesses.
Ranger adds Total Fire Group leadership and client base
Darren Baird, Founder and Group Director of Total Fire Group, will remain with the business and continue leading its operations while working with the wider Ranger Group.
Ranger said Baird, a former firefighter who held senior roles within the fire service, will also support Group strategy on mitigating and managing risk across its customer base.
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.”
Baird added: “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.”
Ranger records 17th acquisition since 2024
The deal is Ranger’s 17th acquisition since its formation in early 2024 and its fourth acquisition of 2026.
Ranger said the acquisition forms part of its strategy to bring together regional operators into a national platform serving customers across the UK and Ireland.
The company also said it has backing from Hyperion Equity Partners.