Brainerd MN Security and Fire | Midwest Security and Fire BLOG

Thank you to everyone that stopped by our display at the 2010 Mid Minnesota Builders Association MMBA last weekend at the Brained Civic Center. We had a great weekend meeting with new and existing customers, friends, and other exhibitors. If you picked up a postcard at our booth to enter to win the Security System you still have time to enter. Just go to www.midwestsecurityandfire.com to enter. We will accept entries until April 30th, 2010 and the winner will be announced on May 1st 2010. Good luck to everyone and thanks for stoping by our booth.

Mid Minnesota Builders Association Home Show 2010

The 2010 Mid-Minnesota Builders Association (MMBA) Home Show is coming up March 26-28. If you are building, remodeling, or just looking for a product or service for your home, this is a must. You will find everything for the home at this years show from building contractors to security systems. Midwest Security & Fire will be at the show with product offering for security systems, surveillance systems, fire alarms and systems, access control, home automation and audio video systems for new and existing construction and remodeling projects in Brainerd, Crosslake, Nisswa, Aitkin, Wadena, Staples, Park Rapids, Nevis, Walker, Longville, Little Falls, St Cloud and surrounding communities. We have some great new products like IP cameras and IDVR’s (IP Digital Video Recorders) and new communications technologies for security control that you will hear about. Come and find us at the 2010 MMBA Home Show in booth #59. Just for checking us out at the show, we are offering you a chance to win a FREE SECURITY SYSTEM! Go to our website at www.midwestsecurityandfire.com and just click the “Home Show” button to register. The winner will be announced on May 1st 2010.

Wadena MN security and fire alarms from Midwest Security and Fire, providing professional sales and installation for over 30 years.

Little Falls, MN Security & Access Control Installation

Midwest Security & Fire provides security alarm systems and service to the Little Falls and St Cloud Areas. Midwest Security was recently selected to provide security system services and access control installation for the Initiative Foundation located in Little Falls MN. The security system secures the building from intrusion and has enhanced features for occupant safety. The Access Control System controls and monitors access to areas of the facility and insures the foundations staff and assets are protected.

For security alarm systems, access control, fire alarms, and surveillance (camera systems) in the Little Falls and St Cloud areas, contact Midwest Security 1 at 1800-525-1203 or click the link www.midwestsecurityandfire.com

The Initiative Foundation  improves the quality of life in central Minnesota. The core of the work is the belief that local people possess the talent, passion and ability to achieve a brighter future. Programs and investments strive to give every person an opportunity to contribute to a shared vision and plan of action that strengthens community character and relationships. For more information on the Initiative Foundation click the link www.ifound.org

GE Vigilant Fire & Life Safety

Midwest Security & Fire, Inc. was recently awarded the contract for replacement and installation of a new Fire Alarm System at the  Lakes Area Senior Center located on Kingwood Street in Brainerd Minnesota.  The multi-level building once a hospital for the area is now the home to the Senior Center as well as several other area organizations and businesses. The current system was not functional and did not meet the requerments for the use of the facility. Midwest Security & Fire was contrcated to remove and replace the existing system and bring the system current with ADA compliance. The Building will be retrofitted with a new GE Vigilant Fire System using addressable technology and new efficient and powerful GE Genesis series horns and strobes. The Fire Alarm will be monitored 24 hours a day by the Midwest Security 1 Monitoring Center. For more information on Fire Alarm sytems and services, call Midwest Security & Fire at 218-825-8844 or follow the following link www.midwestsecurityandfire.com

Midwest Security & Fire provides CareGard Emergency Medical Alarms from GE Security and Linear. With just a push of a button our CareGard Emergency Medical Alarms contact our Monitoring Center for assistance.

Our trained operators will dispatch authorites or repsonsible persons. The CareGard units feature two way voice operation when activated so that our operators can speak with the user to determine the problem.

At Midwest Security & Fire we have CareGard units available for purchase or rental. Our 24 hour Emergency Monitoring featuring two way voice communications is only $25.00 per month.

Watch the video to see a demonstration of the CareGard unit by Andy Fyock of Midwest Security & Fire. Call us today for more information on this great product and service.

Midwest Security & Fire, Inc will provide a 10 minute presentation on our products, services, and what a good referral for us looks like on Thursday January 14, 2010 at the Timbermist Conference Center in Merrifield MN at 7:00 am. The feature speaker will be Harry Brodmarkle, Operations Manager and Principal. Midwest Security & Fire will give away a GE Security Pro 6000 Security System including custom installation and Central Station Monitoring to one lucky participant at the meeting.  You may find out more about the Brainerd Chapter of BNI Leaders of the Lakes at http://www.bni-mn.com . For information on Custom Security Systems in Brainerd, Nisswa, Crosslake, Park Rapids, Wadena, and McGreggor MN check out www.midwestsecurityandfire.com

Another year has gone by and our family has been providing Security Systems, Fire Alarms, and Surveillance Systems for 32 years now. I remember our family moving to Brainerd in 1978 and my father Jack Brodmarkle deciding to start a security company. My father started in the business by providing security guards and eventually began selling and installing security systems due to the demand in the area. When my brother Ed Brodmarkle ran the company in the mid 1980’s and early 1990’s the guard business transitioned out and we concentrated  our efforts on monitored security and fire systems.

A lot has happened and much has changed since then but one thing is the same, we are still a local family owned business providing the best possible service and products available to our residential and commercial security system customers. From St. Paul to St. Cloud, Little Falls, Brainerd and Crosslake areas, Staples to Wadena and Park Rapids, and up the Iron Range and Duluth, we have become a leader for custom installation of security systems, fire alarms, access control systems, and surveillance systems for residential and commercial clients. We are known for our experience, professional installations, and most importantly our great staff of experts. We would not be here today if we did not have great people working with us along the way. I would like to thank Andy Fyock  our Service Manager and Jared Heldt our Fire and Video Systems Manager for all they do for me these past many years. They are amazing and prove to me everyday that the impossible is possible.

Finally as I look back on my 18 years in the business, I would like to thank all our loyal and faithful clients. Without you, we would not be here today. As I go out on site visits to meet  new or existing clients it is not uncommon for me to be holding a 25 year old client file with my father or brothers handwriting all over it. It makes me smile when I review those files and I give my very best and then some on those days. You hired us to protect your home or business, and we will never let you down. We will always provide you with the level of service you have come to expect from us. You have my word on it.

All our best to you and your family for this New Year.

Harry Brodmarkle

Fire System Installation 

With assistance from Midwest Security & Fire, Andrea Headbird can turn her dream into a reality. Headbird, founder of Mikinnaak Child Care, hopes to turn her day care into a therapeutic child care center. But first, she needed to purchase a new fire alarm system. Midwest Security & Fire, Inc. provided a new GE Vigilant Fire System to meet all fire codes to the center at a reduced cost. Midwest Security & Fire, Inc. strongly believes in supporting the children, youth, and families of the communities it serves. The gift to Mikinnaak was a great way to show that support. Also working on the project with support of materials or labor were GE Vigilant Fire, Franzen Electrical Services, and Viking Electric Supply.

The new fire system involved installation of fire alarm controls, manual pull stations, smoke detectors, heat detectors, horns and strobes to meet all fire codes and ADA requirments. The installation of the emergency and exit lighting required at the center was also completed in the project. The project was inspected and approved by a Minnesota State Fire Marshall and the Minnesota State Board of Electricity.

About Mikinnaak Child Care

Mikinnaak Child Care (mikinnaak means snapping turtle in the Ojibwe language), was started two years ago by Headbird and her husband, Jess. The day care is located in the basement of St. Peter’s Church, on Third Street and Cedar Avenue in Cass Lake.

The center needed a  fire alarm system to become a non-profit organization, which will provide holistic care for children with special needs. “It’s really hard to find a daycare that will work with children with special needs,” said Headbird. Headbird had envisioned a center like this since she started working in child care almost 30 years ago.

According to Headbird, she saw the need for a different type of childcare by looking at the high dropout rate of kids leaving school, a higher rate of grandparents taking sole care of grandchildren, and parents who miss opportunities to diagnose their child because they don’t want to label them. “I’ve seen so many children with behavior issues and special needs,” said Headbird. “So many parents have told me they need a place to bring their children because no one else will take them.”

Children with special needs are often missed at an early age, said Headbird. They must travel from one facility to the next in order for their needs to be met, carrying a long trail of paper with them. “We hope to be the place that parents will feel safe to bring their kids to,” said Headbird. “We hope to offer everything they need under one roof.”

I found this very interesting article on Surveillance systems in the Star Tribune

Surveillance systems just keep getting better and better. At Midwest Security & Fire we have been installing surveillance systems for over 20 years for home and business. We have experience with all types of systems from very small 4 camera systems to large integrated systems. Our systems feature the latest cameras with advanced features such as infrared illumination, day/night operation, mega pixel resolution, and IP capability. Our Digital Video Recorders (DVR’s) feature high resolution recording, easy playback, network connectivity, USB or DVD drives for export, and many other convenient and easy to use features. The systems are very affordable. We have a system to meet every need and budget. Give Midwest Security & Fire a call today at 1-800-525-1203 or find us on the Internet at www.midwestsecurityandfire.com

You will find a great article in the Star Tribune about advancements in Surveillance Systems and how they are helping law enforcement solve crimes. Here is the link http://www.startribune.com/local/east/71107357.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU