The Rise of Fire Bros Cannabis: How Alex Prindle Built a Washington Cannabis Legacy
In the competitive landscape of Washington state's cannabis industry, few companies have demonstrated the commitment to quality and innovation that defines Fire Bros Cannabis. Founded by Seattle natives including Alex Prindle, this producer-processor has evolved from humble beginnings into one of the state's premier cannabis brands, setting standards for cultivation excellence and product development that continue to influence the market today.
Rooted in Seattle: The Origins of Fire Bros
Fire Bros Cannabis traces its origins back to 2005, when Alex Prindle and his team received two gifted clones that would change the course of their lives: OG Kush and God's Gift. These initial strains sparked what Prindle describes as "an obsession with genetics," launching a journey that would span nearly two decades and establish Fire Bros as a cornerstone of Washington's cannabis community.
"We started growing back in 2005 with two clones that were gifted to us by way of our buddy Moe Lasses; the OG Kush and God's Gift," recounts Prindle. "Shortly after that, we kinda developed an obsession with genetics, and started buying up any exciting seeds we could get our hands on."
During these early years, when seed banks were predominantly based in Holland and domestic options were limited, Fire Bros relied heavily on forums like THC Farmer to source genetics from renowned breeders like OG Raskal, Alien Genetics, and Top Dawg. This dedication to finding exceptional genetics yielded remarkable phenotypes including Fruity Pebble OG, White Dawg, Raskal's OG, Tres Dawg, and EWOK.
When Washington state's regulated cannabis market emerged, Fire Bros was perfectly positioned to transition from the medical days into a legitimate business operation. The company quickly established itself as what many consider "true Seattle cannabis industry OGs."
Cultivating Excellence: The Fire Bros Approach
What sets Fire Bros apart in a saturated market is their unwavering commitment to quality at every stage of production. Operating from a state-of-the-art indoor facility in Seattle, the company maintains full control over their cultivation process from seed to sale.
"We take pride in doing everything in-house, from germination to cultivation. No outsourcing here," the company explains. This vertical integration ensures that every product bearing the Fire Bros name meets their exacting standards.
The cultivation team at Fire Bros, led by Garden Director Santi, combines extensive horticultural knowledge with cutting-edge technology to maximize the genetic potential of each plant. Their meticulous approach has resulted in a portfolio of proprietary strains that showcase unique characteristics in aroma, flavor, and effect.
Perhaps most notably, Fire Bros exclusively cultivates strains developed in-house through rigorous phenotype selection. This makes their genetic library entirely unique to their farm—something increasingly rare in an industry where clone-sharing has become commonplace.
Alex Prindle and his team remain intimately involved in daily operations, with the founders regularly present in the garden. This hands-on approach ensures that the high standards established over a decade ago continue to be maintained throughout their expanding product line.
From Seeds to Success: The Phenotype Selection Process
One of the most fascinating aspects of Fire Bros' operation is their methodical approach to phenotype hunting—the process of selecting specific expressions of cannabis genetics for commercial cultivation.
Prindle explains that while phenotype hunting represents "a small percentage of the daily work load, the whole process takes quite a bit of time." The journey from seed to finalized strain typically spans nearly six months, beginning with germination and progressing through careful clone selection, flowering, harvesting, curing, and final evaluation.
"First you've gotta germinate the seeds which can take up to 5-6 days til the seedling pops out of the medium," Prindle details. "Then it's gotta be grown for let's say 45 days before it's ready to be cloned. Those clones take about 14 days to be rooted and then transplanted. Another 14 before they can be flowered. Flowering takes about 62 days."
This painstaking process continues with careful monitoring for male plants, followed by harvesting, drying, curing, and trimming—adding another 35 days. Even after this extensive process, potential winners must be cultivated again to confirm they merit inclusion in the permanent rotation.
"So yeah. It's not quick and it's not easy," Prindle acknowledges. This dedication to finding exceptional phenotypes has yielded signature strains that have built Fire Bros' reputation, including some that came about through happy accidents, like their Pineapple Pancakes strain—"an accidental pollination of the Pineapple Haze from our Sour Pebbles. There's always a silver lining!"
Signature Strains: The Jewels in the Fire Bros Crown
Fire Bros has developed an impressive catalog of proprietary strains, each selected for its unique characteristics and exceptional quality. Among the most notable is God's Gift, one of the original strains that launched their journey in 2005 and remarkably remains in their cultivation program today.
Prindle cites God's Gift as his personal favorite, "because of my history with it, but also because it's kinda the perfect smoke for my tastes. Great bag appeal, super flavorful and fruity, and not so potent that you can't smoke a lot of it."
Garden Director Santi, however, favors I-90, another Fire Bros cultivar known for its potency. According to Prindle, Santi appreciates this strain for similar reasons, though "he's got beastly tolerance, so even though the I-90 is strong, he's still putting down a couple L's a day and handling his business 100%."
More recently, Fire Bros has garnered attention for "The Glove," a potent indica strain created by crossing Gary Payton with Cali Sunset Pheno #20. Known for its distinctive diesel, blueberry, and lemon flavors, The Glove exemplifies Fire Bros' talent for developing strains with complex terpene profiles and noteworthy effects. The strain represents their continued innovation in genetics and their ability to create distinctive offerings in a competitive market.
Other standout offerings in the Fire Bros lineup include Lemon Slushee and MAC's Power, further demonstrating their diverse genetic library cultivated over years of dedicated breeding work.
Beyond Flower: Expanding the Fire Bros Portfolio
While exceptional flower forms the foundation of Fire Bros' reputation, the company has strategically expanded into multiple product categories to serve the evolving Washington cannabis market.
Using their premium flower as the base, Fire Bros produces a range of concentrates that have earned acclaim for their purity and flavor preservation. Their extraction process emphasizes terpene retention, resulting in concentrates that capture the authentic essence of their carefully cultivated strains.
"We've got dabbable extracts that'll knock your socks off," the company states, emphasizing the care taken to preserve terpene profiles throughout the extraction process.
Fire Bros has also entered the vaporizer market with distinctive offerings that maintain their commitment to quality. Their vape products are produced using fresh-frozen whole plants to preserve terpenes and cannabinoids, resulting in a product free from cutting agents or distillates.
"Our vapes are 100% live resin, no cutting agents or distillates in sight," they explain. "Just pure, unadulterated goodness that'll have your taste buds doing the happy dance."
The company has further expanded with pre-rolled products that reflect their quality-focused ethos. Unlike some competitors who use trim or lower-quality material for pre-rolls, Fire Bros maintains their "All Killer, No Filler" approach, using only quality flower.
To accommodate different market segments, Fire Bros has introduced sub-brands including "Rainy Days," which offers smaller buds of the same premium flower at a more accessible price point, and "Cloud Packs," which feature botanical terpene blends in their vape offerings.
Building a Cannabis Culture: Fire Bros' Mission and Values
Beyond their product offerings, Fire Bros has cultivated a distinctive company culture that emphasizes collaboration, authenticity, and quality.
"At Fire Bros, our mission is to craft the finest cannabis products, all while cultivating an atmosphere of good vibes and teamwork, where every individual is empowered to contribute the unique strengths brought forth by their authentic selves," the company states.
This philosophy extends to their approach to cultivation, where they prioritize pesticide-free growing methods and rigorous quality testing. With a background in laboratory testing for contaminants and potency, Fire Bros' leadership brings scientific rigor to their operation, employing various analytical methods to ensure consistent quality control.
Their commitment to quality assurance includes testing for heavy metals and contaminants, ensuring their products meet rigorous safety standards. This attention to quality has established Fire Bros as a trusted brand in Washington's retail landscape, with their products featured at prominent dispensaries including Higher Leaf and Hashtag Redmond.
Looking to the Future:
As Fire Bros continues to solidify its position in Washington's cannabis market, the company has set its sights on broader horizons.
Fire Bros continues to innovate in genetic development, with Alex Prindle noting they're "always on the hunt for that new shit." Rather than following market trends, the company focuses on developing phenotypes that excite their team and meet their comprehensive quality standards encompassing appearance, aroma, potency, vigor, and genetic stability.
While Prindle acknowledges certain limitations in their breeding program—noting they'll likely never grow landrace sativas due to height and maturity challenges—he also hints at upcoming innovations, mentioning "a bunch of new sativas on the way" and a promising Sally cross "that should be launching soon" that's "arguably better than the original."
A Washington Cannabis Legacy
From their humble beginnings in 2005 with two gifted clones to their current position as one of Washington's premier cannabis brands, Fire Bros has remained true to their founding principles of quality, authenticity, and innovation.
Led by Alex Prindle and supported by a dedicated team including Garden Director Santi, Fire Bros continues to set standards in Washington's competitive cannabis landscape. Their commitment to in-house cultivation, proprietary genetics, and rigorous quality control has established them as industry leaders whose influence extends well beyond the Pacific Northwest.
As they expand their operations and continue to develop new strains and products, Fire Bros remains committed to their founding mission: cultivating and delivering the finest cannabis possible, while fostering a culture that celebrates both the plant and the people who bring it to life.
For cannabis enthusiasts in Washington state and beyond, the Fire Bros name has become synonymous with quality, innovation, and authenticity—a legacy that continues to burn bright nearly two decades after their journey began.
By Michael
Sources:
https://luxpotshop.com/advice/cannabis-genetics/
https://www.respectmyregion.com/the-glove-strain-fire-bros/
https://seattlehashtag.com/blog/2021/3/24/know-your-grower-fire-bros
WA States Advertising Disclaimer. Just In Case.
- "This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming.";
- "cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.";
- "There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product."; and
- "For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children."
