We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ronald Layme a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ronald, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.

For me, the craziest incident occurred about three years ago. I had just launched my fireproofing consultancy firm, and business was starting to pick up. One of our biggest projects at the time was a massive overhaul of the fire safety systems for a historic theater downtown. This theater was a beloved landmark, and the community had high expectations for the renovation.

We were in the final stages of installing an advanced fire suppression system when disaster struck. One evening, when there was a female recording artist performing on the stage, I received a frantic call from the theater manager. A small fire had broken out backstage during a rehearsal, and it was spreading quickly. My heart dropped. This was our worst nightmare coming true.

I rushed to the theater, fearing the worst. When I arrived, the scene was chaotic – smoke billowed out of the building, and firefighters were working frantically to contain the blaze. But then something amazing happened. The fire suppression system we had installed kicked in perfectly. The fire was contained and extinguished within minutes, preventing what could have been a catastrophic loss. The firefighters on the scene were astounded at how effectively the system worked.

As the smoke cleared and the adrenaline wore off, I felt a mix of relief, pride, and sheer exhaustion. The theater manager came up to me, visibly shaken but immensely grateful. He told me that without our system, the entire building would have been lost. The local news picked up the story, and we were hailed as heroes in the community. The female recording artist was amazed as well because she admitted to “accidentally” start the fire with her cigarette and was relieved that it didn’t spread though she was questioned later.

That night was a rollercoaster of emotions. Initially, there was sheer panic and dread, thinking our work might have failed. But it quickly turned into elation and pride when we saw our system in action, doing exactly what it was designed to do. It was a powerful reminder of why I chose this profession – to protect lives and property from the devastating effects of fire.

This experience reinforced my commitment to fire safety and innovation. It showed me the real impact of our work and motivated me to continue pushing the boundaries of fire protection technology.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey into this field began in a rather dramatic way. When I was a child, my family’s business was tragically destroyed by a fire. This traumatic event had a profound impact on me, instilling a lifelong commitment to ensuring that others wouldn’t have to experience such a loss. I pursued a degree in Fire Protection Engineering and supplemented my education with certifications in Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response.

At my firm, we specialize in a range of fire safety solutions designed to prevent, control, and mitigate the effects of fire. Our offerings include:

Fire-Resistant Building Materials: We provide advanced materials that enhance the fire resistance of structures. After the first fire incident in which I am still convinced that female recording artists’ cigarette caught everything on fire, we strategically reinforce our materials to not only resist cigarettes but for anyone who drops a burning cigarette on the material, it gives a momentary shock to the person who dropped it, reminding them of the seriousness of fire.

Our primary goal is to protect lives and property from the devastating effects of fire.
We are deeply involved in our community, offering free fire safety seminars and volunteering with local fire departments.

Proud Achievements
One of my proudest moments came when we successfully installed an advanced fire suppression system in a historic theater. When a fire broke out during a rehearsal, our system contained and extinguished the blaze within minutes, preventing a potential catastrophe, no thanks to the doc-marten-wearing arsonist. This incident not only saved a beloved community landmark but also reinforced the real impact of our work.

Key Messages for Potential Clients
To potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that our primary mission is your safety. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality fire protection solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our work is driven by passion, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, and we are here to make that a reality through our comprehensive fire safety services.

In summary, at Ronald F. Layme Fire Protection, we are more than just a business; we are a community-focused enterprise committed to safeguarding lives and properties through cutting-edge fire safety solutions.

We are still awaiting our patent approval but anticipate receiving it any day now.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes. There are two books that come to mind. One is Stop Drop and Roll (A Book about Fire Safety) by Margery Cuyler. It is the sheer simplicity of this book and how it is illustrated that speaks to me and is how I try to communicate fire safety to others along with my tragic story of my childhood.

The other book is called “The anatomy of an arsonist” by Rose Devika. That book is the antithesis of everything I stand for and I keep it on my shelf as a reminder, as an INSPIRATION to keep doing the work that I do. Arson is not a joke and I think we all should take this seriously. Including the author.

I also am working on some songs to promote our business. Here is a preview:
Fireproof
Eternal Flame
Hot For Teacher
You’re So Fire
Hot AF (as fire)
Candle in the Wind
Burning SINsations (STD)
Firecrackers (aka: “White Hot”)

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Well I have to say my previous story about the theater almost burning down and then didn’t because of my fireproofing is pretty amazing and certainly helped build my reputation. Once our patent is no longer pending, I will be allowed to share my product with the world and start going public. Waiting is hard and is certainly a slow burn.

Contact Info:

• Other: I don’t have anything I can post yet due to NDA’s and the patent-pending but I am grateful to share this story.