Fire departments are constantly faced with the important decision of how to properly store and protect their turnout gear. For one Minnesota fire department, they were ready to find something new to match their department’s transformation. 

What they needed wasn’t just new firefighter lockers. They needed a system that could evolve long-term with their department.

 

Outgrowing Homemade Turnout Gear Storage

Historically, the Eagan Fire Department operated as an all-volunteer department with six stations and approximately 150 paid-on-call firefighters. Like many departments across the country, maintaining volunteer staffing became increasingly difficult.

Eagan made the strategic decision to consolidate from six stations down to three—building two brand-new stations and expanding an existing facility—while transitioning to a combination model with both career and paid-on-call staff.

With that growth came a hard truth: their homemade wooden turnout gear lockers with basic metal hooks were no longer adequate.

Turnout gear is a significant investment and a critical part of every firefighter’s job. It needs proper airflow, durability, and protection—something their existing storage simply couldn’t provide.

The Search for Firefighter Lockers That Could Handle Real Use

Fire Chief Mike Scott led the search for a better solution. While researching firefighter lockers, it became clear that not all products are built for the realities of fire service use.

“In my eyes, not all lockers are created equal,” Chief Scott noted.

 

Discovering GearGrid: Built for PPE, Built to Last

While touring other fire stations during the design process, the Eagan team discovered GearGrid. What stood out immediately was:

  • Clean, modern design
  • Heavy-duty construction
  • Products engineered specifically for PPE
  • Made in the USA

GearGrid firefighter gear lockers weren’t repurposed solutions, they were purpose-built. That distinction made all the difference.

 

A New Station & A Bigger Opportunity

By 2017, Eagan’s second new station was underway with CNH Architects, led by Quinn Hutson, AIA, LEED AP. At that point, selecting GearGrid firefighter lockers for turnout gear storage was an easy decision.

What surprised the department was just how far GearGrid’s capabilities extended beyond standard lockers.

As planning continued, Eagan realized GearGrid’s real strength was customization.

 

Solving Space Constraints with Smarter Locker Layouts

One major challenge emerged during facility design: the designated PPE room off the apparatus floor didn’t have enough wall space to house lockers for the entire combination staff.

GearGrid solved this with the Tubular Frame Wall. The island-style configuration allowed firefighter gear lockers to be mounted on both sides, instantly doubling storage capacity without expanding the footprint.

Custom Firefighter Lockers, Minnesota Style

Eagan had a unique request: custom colors for their firefighter gear lockers. With the Minnesota Vikings building their headquarters and practice facility in Eagan, the department wanted to honor the city with purple and gold lockers.

GearGrid delivered.

The GearGrid in-house powder coating team transformed the lockers into a bold Vikings-inspired design, and even powder-coated large apparatus bay fans to match. The result was a cohesive, professional space that reflected community pride.

Extending Storage Beyond the Apparatus Floor

Eagan also needed dorm room storage that matched the look and quality of the rest of the station. GearGrid’s Personnel Lockers provided secure storage and integrated seating, finished in the same custom purple powder coat.

“When you buy products from GearGrid, you know you will have a consistent look throughout your station,” said Chief Scott.

Custom Solutions for Real-World Firehouse Needs

Additional needs led to additional solutions:

  • Radio charger storage: GearGrid designed a custom metal fixture that mounted directly to their grid system, allowing chargers to be easily adjusted and reconfigured over time.
  • Memorial locker: GearGrid created a dedicated memorial locker honoring Lt. Roy Prudencio, who lost his life to cancer in 2010—providing a lasting tribute to his service and sacrifice.

Each solution reinforced the same principle: firefighter lockers should adapt to the department, not the other way around.

 

Firefighter Gear Lockers That Grow with the Department

Today, the Eagan Fire Department proudly stores turnout gear in durable, breathable GearGrid firefighter gear lockers across all three stations.

They continue returning to GearGrid for one simple reason: the combination of product quality, customization, and customer support.

Chief Scott values GearGrid’s willingness to listen, innovate, and evolve alongside the fire service, developing solutions that meet today’s needs while anticipating tomorrow’s challenges.

 

Ready to Upgrade Your Firefighter Lockers?

If your department is outgrowing outdated storage or planning a new facility, our team at GearGrid is ready to help you build smarter, more flexible firefighter gear storage space.

Contact GearGrid today to see what’s possible for your station.