About Us

Over the years Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company has earned the trust and respect of architects, developers, and contractors throughout the Northwest. Maybe it's because we approach each and every project as a personal investment. Quality, honesty, and great product pricing has been a business philosophy that has kept us growing since 1930.

Viking opened its doors back in 1930 to service the Northwest’s wood product industry. Since then, Viking has expanded into a regional leader in fire protection services with offices in Portland, Medford, Seattle, Longview, Nampa and Pocatello.

Viking provides fire sprinkler and Special Hazard services in commercial, industrial, and residential markets. Viking features design-build fire protection capability for all sizes and scopes of projects, a 24-hour service department, an inspection and maintenance program, and full fabrication shops in our Portland and Seattle locations.

Fire protection is only as strong
as the people behind it

Our History

Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company was founded by Mr. Rolla L. Thorsdale in the midst of the Great Depression. The ownership of Viking has only changed three times since inception in 1930.

Wally Larson began working for Viking as a shop fabricator in 1935. Together with fellow employees Lawrence Larson and Ted Tate, Wally’s group purchased the operation from Mr. Thorsdale in 1964.

Jay Larson, Stu Larson, Mike Tate, and Jeff Larson purchased the company from their fathers in 1986. The four actively managed the daily operations of the company until the late 1990s. After the semi-retirement of Jay, Stu, and Jeff, Rob Hash and Debbie Miner were placed in leadership positions under Mike Tate, who continued as the managing owner.

After Mike Tate’s unexpected passing in 2009, the surviving partners offered Rob Hash and Debbie Miner ownership positions. As of January of 2011, Rob and Debbie are the current owners of Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company.

Viking has come a long way since its founding in the Great Depression era. Having weathered numerous difficult business cycles, Viking has emerged each time smarter, stronger, and more confident than ever in our business philosophy and the people behind it.

Our Principles

Viking is built on the core belief that we will be successful if we roll up our sleeves and work hard, work together as a team, make good business decisions, stay positive and professional, provide quality at all levels and, most importantly, take care of our valued customers.

The guiding principles that Viking has put in place to ensure the success of our company are as follows:

  • Continue to build and maintain relationships. Our business relationships are the foundation of Viking and what sets us apart from our competitors. Always provide the highest level of service and quality and never disappoint the customer.
  • Make sure that we maximize the profits on our projects. Manage jobs closely and make sure that good decisions are being made in all areas. Seek to recognize a potential problem before it happens. It's more cost effective to plan a solution to avoid a problem than it is to react to a problem.
  • Make safety a top priority. We put a lot of resources into preventing accidents because our customers and our insurance company demands it, but most importantly because we do not want any member of our family to get hurt. Accidents affect our employees, our employee's families, the company moral, and Viking's bottom line.
  • Be productive. Viking is founded on hard work and self-discipline. It will carry us through any situation, no matter how difficult.
  • Pay attention to details, take initiative and be professional in the approach to your work. If we strive to achieve thoroughness and accuracy in everything that we do and we do things before being asked or before we are required to do so, our company will run at a very high level.
  • Demand the best service from our vendors and subcontractors. Our customers demand this from us and we need to demand this also.
  • Promote Viking. Leave no doubt that when a customer works with us that it will be a positive experience, that they will get a quality product, that they will receive the highest level of service, and that they are working with the best.
  • Continue to educate yourself. Strive to obtain the highest level of training and certifications and become involved in industry related groups and associations.