When a fire breaks out, people sometimes use fire hydrants to save the day. Now you can use your pool as a water source with Bianca Wittenberg’s FireFighter1 pool fire hose. Bianca shook hands with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner on Shark Tank in 2022, years later FireFighter1 is worth $600,000 to $800,000.
Bianca Wittenberg’s Background
Bianca Wittenberg is a resident of El Dorado Hills, California. Wittenberg has a bachelor’s degree in business management from NAU and an MBA from Sacramento State College.
Initially, she owned a landscaping business called All Play Lawns. Next, she worked as a broker associate at Lyon Real Estate and Morris Williams Realty. IBMC also hired her as an operations manager.
In 2016, she worked as an air traffic control specialist for 11 months at the U.S. Department of Defense. When she returned home, Bianca started Own It Real Estate.
Founding FireFighter1
The idea originally came from Bianca’s late father, who watched homeowners spray their roofs with garden hoses on the news for years and felt sure there had to be a better way. Bianca began developing the concept in 2015, and after his passing in 2017, she committed to bringing the product to market in his memory.
The FireFighter1 hose connects directly to a pool’s existing pump via a 3-way diverter, sprays 100+ gallons per minute, and can shoot water over 40 feet. The average in-ground pool holds 10,000–15,000 gallons of water, providing a meaningful defensive resource. The product officially launched in February 2022 after years of refinement.
Appearing on Shark Tank
By the time Bianca walked into the Tank in Season 14, FireFighter1 had been on the market less than a year, with 49 units sold for around $22,000 in lifetime revenue. She wanted a Shark’s help scaling production, lowering manufacturing costs and expanding her partnerships with pool companies.
Several firefighter products have featured on Shark Tank such as Hyconn, which Cuban invested in but not many have gone on to become a big success. Bianca asked for $150,000 for 15% equity, valuing the business at $1 million. Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban offered $150,000 for 25%. Bianca countered at 20% but Lori and Mark held firm, and Bianca accepted the offer.
How Things Played Out After Shark Tank
The deal with Mark and Lori ultimately did not close. In an interview with Shark Tank Recap, Bianca explained the deal fell through due to legal concerns about the Sharks being associated with the word “fire.” Despite that, she said both Mark and Lori continued to provide guidance and resources to help her grow the business independently.
The Shark Tank exposure itself has been a major boost. Bianca has reported a roughly 300% increase in sales after airing, with consistent spikes whenever the episode reruns. In 2024, FireFighter1 hit its first $100,000 month, a significant jump from the 49 units the company had sold heading into the Tank.
The product line has also expanded. The flagship 50ft FireFighter1 hose now starts at $499 and the 100ft hose with extension starts at $639 on FightFireFirst.com, with a 3-way diverter valve sold separately for $68.
Bianca has also launched a Barricade Fire Gel upgrade, a gel that coats the home through the FireFighter1 hose to provide protection if owners need to evacuate and the company has integrated GIS mapping so fire departments can locate registered FireFighter1 systems during emergencies.
Demand has been particularly strong following the devastating 2025 California wildfires, with the company prioritising orders to affected ZIP codes. Estimates now place FireFighter1’s valuation somewhere between $600,000 and $800,000.
While it’s still not a household-name Shark Tank success, it’s carved out a clear niche in homeowner defensible-space planning, and Bianca’s continued to honour her father’s vision in the process.
