MEET DAN: THE FIREFIGHTER BEHIND THE METAL ART
Dan, the creative force behind Torched Steel, isn't your typical "artist". He's a dedicated Boston firefighter, an Army veteran, and a father of three with a simple passion for transforming scrap metal into pieces of art.
Dan's love for building and creating with metal started young. He began working for an HVAC company at 14 years old which sparked his interest in welding metal creations. After serving in the Army for 8 years, he joined Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 union and worked with metal for years, honing his knowledge and skills. Eventually, he got on the Boston Fire Department and these days, you can find him either in the firehouse or his favorite place - his garage - meticulously crafting, welding, grinding, and fabricating unique creations from all sorts of metal.
The inspiration for the custom firefighter helmets came after Dan made a steel replica of his own helmet out of scrap metal picked up at fire details and left it at the firehouse. The positive response from those who saw it, and wanted one, helped Dan recognize the need for a unique and meaningful firefighter legacy piece. Since that first helmet was made, Dan has been hard at work in his garage refining and perfecting the process, style, and look so that he can proudly offer a custom creation that not only lasts a lifetime, but holds meaning for the generations to come.
Here at Torched Steel, it's a (very) small family affair. Dan spends weeks creating each unique helmet in his spare time, and his wife Bridget manages the business after working her own 9-5.
