Kale Brucks: Owner, Engine Company Leather

Before he started Engine Company Leather, Kale Brucks had a long career as a firefighter. He joined as a volunteer firefighter at age 16, and over the next two decades, Kale worked in Missouri communities like the Lake of the Ozarks, Columbia, and Jefferson City.

Although he can’t pinpoint a time in his childhood or young life as the moment when he knew he’d join the fire service, once he did, it was clear he’d found his calling.

“The further I got along in the industry, the more I knew it was my purpose,” Kale shares.

That purpose has been reflected throughout his years of service, including a prestigious Unit Citation, a Meritorious Service Award, a Stork Award, and multiple honors for valor and proactive excellence.

In 2021, Kale’s firefighting career came to an end when a medical issue forced him into early retirement. Although he’s no longer a firefighter, he is still firmly rooted in the fire service through Engine Company Leather.

After his retirement, he slowly built a hobby that he had quietly nurtured since 2012. What began in his garage as a creative outlet soon grew into a passion project.

“My plan was to retire later in life, and whatever the business was at that time, it was. I wasn’t planning to run a business full-time,” Kale admits.

As a firefighter, Kale noticed a lack of high-quality, fire fighter-specific leather gear. With no formal training, just a passion for the industry, Kale decided to fill the gap. He taught himself through trial and error. He took trips to Springfield, Missouri, for leather supplies and spent time in his garage learning, experimenting, and perfecting his craft.

Those early days laid the groundwork for creating a company standard of crafting a quality product that is built to last and to keep fire service industry professionals safe.

As demand grew, his hobby moved from the garage to inside his home and eventually took over the basement before moving into a shop in 2019. In 2022, the company expanded to its current location on High Street, a 7,000 square foot space where Kale and the Engine Company Leather team supply gear to firefighters across the country.

Kale’s connection to the fire service also remains strong in the area of giving. He donates gear and funds to local firefighter organizations, is a sponsor for the annual Guns vs. Hoses hockey game fundraiser, and supports firefighter charity golf tournaments. He’s also involved with the Lake Area FOOLS, which raises proceeds to provide financial assistance to the families of fallen first responders, continuing to give back to the community that shaped him.

Kale still throws on his gear to assist in training sessions and attends the massive annual firefighting conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, where more than 40,000 firefighters gather from around the globe. There, he not only showcases his products but also engages in meaningful conversations about the evolving needs of fire professionals, particularly in the area of mental health, a cause he supports through partnerships with advocacy organizations.

While his life has taken a turn he didn’t expect, Kale’s story is a testament to passion and purpose. Though his path has shifted, his mission remains unchanged: to support the fire service in any way he can. These days, that’s through one well-crafted leather piece at a time.