Fire Rescue Firefighter Cap Badge/Brooch

Wear this firefighter cap badge if you serve in fire rescue, or gift one to a friend that serves in the fire department. The top reads “FIRE” and bottom reads “RESCUE” in bold letters. The bugle symbolizes leadership, and best suits someone in a leadership role. The design also includes a ladder, Halligan bar, and helmet.

• Measures Approx. 2.75″ Squared
• Reads “Fire Rescue”
• Cross of Saint Florian
• Central Scramble Represents Preparedness
• Bugle Symbolizes Leadership
• Features a Halligan Bar, Helmet, Ladder, Bugle

Florian Cross

The Maltese Cross likely influenced the Cross of Saint Florian. Firefighters use this symbol, because St. Florian engaged in firefighting. The cross consists of a central circle and four triangles with rounded outer edges. St. Florian, born in 250 CE in what we now call Austria, commanded a Roman army in Noricum. He also lead firefighting brigades in which he organized elite soldiers and trained them to fight fires. Roman soldiers sentenced Florian to burn at the stake after he refused to sacrifice to Roman gods. Likely because of his extensive experience with firefighting, he had no fear of this method of execution. He told the soldiers, “light the fire, and in the name of the Lord I will climbe onto it”. They decided to drown him instead in the Enns River.

Scramble

We call the central circles consisting of several symbols a “Scramble”. The scramble on this badge has a helmet, bugle, Halligan bar, and ladder. New York firefighters created the tool and named it after First Deputy Chief Hugh Halligan in 1948. It helps to pry open doors, and to twist, punch and strike into walls, burning buildings, and homes. Firefighters used bugles to give orders during a rescue back in the day. The symbol represents seniority, and makes the badge excellent for a lieutenant or chief.