04/04/2026
Hurst Fire Equipment was built on a lifetime of fire-safety experience.
Our founder, Bill Melton, began working in the fire-protection industry from 1957 until his passing in 2015, dedicating nearly six decades to protecting lives and property.
A true home-based business, Hurst Fire Equipment was built from the ground up in 1982 by Bill and his wife Bobbie Melton, operating out of their home on Anderson Drive. From that original base of operations, they worked diligently to establish a trusted local fire-protection business serving Hurst, Texas, and the surrounding communities; conducting their work with the deeply held Christian values that guided their personal and professional lives.
Bobbie handled phone calls and bookkeeping, while Bill personally called on clients, building relationships one customer at a time.
As the company grew, their son Stan Melton began helping and, in 1999, assumed management of the day-to-day operations; becoming the face of HFE for many years until his retirement to North Arkansas. A natural salesman who learned the trade from his father, Stan honed his skills in the service and maintenance industry and excelled at providing clients with a personable, relationship-driven experience.
The care and attention shown by Bill and Stan helped build a strong, non-contractual, repeat-customer service base, with more than 60% of customers returning prior to the COVID era, a testament to the trust placed in HFE’s work.
Following Stan’s retirement, his fmr. stepson Russell Rogers assumed responsibility for day-to-day operations. Under his leadership, the company experienced rapid growth, tripling annual gross revenue, expanding to four employees, and broadening its service offerings to provide a more complete fire-safety experience, from portable fire extinguishers to fixed systems and alarm services.
That growth, while positive, also brought new challenges. Managing operations, service delivery, and business development at scale became increasingly difficult while maintaining the level of service HFE’s customers had come to expect.
Today, Ten23 Fire & Safety is honored to carry that legacy forward, bringing expanded resources, additional personnel, and modern capabilities to support continued growth and service excellence. Russell will continue to ensure that same level of service in his role as Operations Manager for the South and Southeast Regions, providing continuity, leadership, and a familiar face for customers moving forward.
