Fire Department Uniform Guidelines

• This Standard Operating Procedure establishes standards for the type and wear of Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) uniforms
• FWFD personnel must comply with uniform policies, and only Fire Chief-approved items can be worn on duty
• The department will furnish badges, belt buckles, insignias of rank, and name tags when members are hired and during promotions
• Uniforms should identify personnel by name, rank, certification level, and organization

Uniform Guidelines

• All personnel must maintain a professional and well-groomed appearance while in uniform
• Uniform items must be kept in good, clean, and non-faded condition
• Only approved official City of Fort Worth patches, pins, or service ribbons are allowed
• Work shirts should always be tucked in, shoes polished, and a belt worn
• Company members must dress alike by class of uniform for all duty-related activities

Garments Issued to Personnel (Operations)

• Five work trousers (any combination of BDU pants and shorts)
• Three uniform polo shirts (any combination of long and short sleeve)
• Five uniform T-Shirts (any combination of long and short sleeve)
• One pullover fleece job shirt
• One reflective rain jacket
• One all-weather reflective jacket
• One belt with buckle
• One ball cap
• One toboggan
• Physical fitness clothing including two sweatshirts, two pairs of sweatpants, and three pairs of shorts

Garments for Non-Operations Personnel

• Operations-qualified personnel will maintain at least one Operations approved work uniform
• Five white dress shirts/polo (any combination of long and short sleeve)
• Five black trousers
• Blue uniform polo shirts (Training staff only)
• Blue T-Shirts (Training staff only)
• All personnel entering a hazard area require NFPA compliant clothing
• Personnel can purchase additional uniforms/physical fitness clothing through Fire Supply by payroll deduction

Uniform Direction

• The Fire Chief, Duty Chief, Assistant Chief, Shift Deputy Chief or Battalion Chief may direct a specific uniform to be worn for a designated activity

Operations Uniform Details

• Uniform polo shirt must be gray/white (long or short sleeve) with name, rank, and "Fort Worth Fire Department" embroidered on the right side and back

Uniform T-shirt details

• Gray (long or short sleeve), with name, rank, and "Fort Worth Fire Department" embroidered on the right side and back
• Approved apparatus logos may be screen printed on the right sleeve at the firefighter's expense with executive staff approval; no other pictures/logos are allowed
• Allowable for Operations, Alarm Office, and Training personnel, but training personnel should wear the uniform polo in classroom/office settings
• Authorized for day-to-day activities of FWFD Operations personnel, including station duties, exercise, and standard emergency responses, and may be worn under PPE

T-Shirt Restrictions

• Uniform T-shirts should not be worn to training (except on the fire ground), public events, Show and Tell events, pre-fire plans, commercial building inspections, or events directed by a Station Officer or Chief Officer; the uniform polo shirt is the appropriate attire for these situations

Trousers and Belt

• Trousers include BDU pants and shorts
• Black, smooth leather belt
• Buckle for Firefighters pre-apprenticeship program completion: Silver colored, plain only
• Buckle for Engineers and Firefighters: Silver colored, FWFD Panther buckle
• Buckle for Officers: Gold colored, FWFD Panther buckle

Shoes, Jackets, and Ball Caps

• Solid black shoes/boots in round toe, athletic, or lace-up combat styles
• Solid black, low quarter athletic or round toe leather shoes with white or black ankle socks with BDU shorts
• Jackets feature name and rank on the front
• Pullover fleece job shirt
• Hooded sweatshirt
• Reflective rain jacket
• All-weather reflective jacket
• The ball cap is issued by Supply or approved by the Fire Chief or designee

Non-Operations Uniform Details:

• Operations-certified personnel shall maintain at least one Operations approved work uniform
• Shirt: White long or short sleeve (button down) collared shirt, or gray/white long or short sleeve polo with name and rank embroidered on the right side and Fort Worth Fire Department on the back.
• Trousers: BDU pants, BDU shorts, or black uniform pants
• Belt should be black, smooth leather
• Buckle for firefighters pre-apprenticeship program completion is silver colored and plain only
• Engineers and Firefighters' Buckle: Silver colored, FWFD Panther buckle
• Officer's buckle: Gold colored, FWFD Panther buckle
• Shoes/boots in solid black
• Round toe shoes or boots, athletic shoes, or lace-up combat style boots are allowed
• Only solid black, low quarter athletic or round toe leather shoes with white or black ankle socks are allowed for wear with the BDU shorts
• Jacket options include name and rank on front, pullover fleece job shirt, hooded sweatshirt, reflective rain jacket, and FCFWFD all-weather reflective jacket.
• The ball cap issued by Supply

Physical Fitness Clothing

• Includes a uniform T-shirt or sweatshirt for shirts, gym shorts or sweatpants for trousers, white or black ankle socks, and appropriate athletic shoes
• Uniform shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and workout/physical fitness clothing may be worn while exercising, during health and fitness evaluations, at night as sleeping attire, during station cleanup, during apparatus maintenance and cleanup, and during hydrant/hose testing
• Physical fitness clothing should not be worn as outerwear during any emergency response or otherwise unless authorized by the Fire Chief or their designee

Class-A Dress Uniform

• Personnel shall maintain at least one Class-A uniform, worn at functions designated by the Fire Chief or designee

Class-A Dress Uniform Description

• Coat: Black, Lighthouse Signature Line (SDB), double-breasted, tropical worsted, wool/polyester blend, featuring military-type cloth-bound holes, one welt breast pocket, two lower hip welt pockets, six FD gold or silver buttons, a name tag one inch above the breast pocket, the appropriate rank insignia on the collar, and the FWFD patch on the left shoulder; no other patches allowed unless approved by the Fire Chief
• Trousers: Black, Lighthouse Signature Line (SDB), tropical worsted, wool/polyester blend
• Shirt: White, plain collar dress, long sleeve, with the appropriate rank insignia on the collar and arm patches, as issued by Fire Supply
• Necktie: Black, plain, flat finish
• Belt: Black, smooth leather
• Buckle for Firefighters pre-Apprenticeship Program completion: Silver colored, plain only
• Engineers and Firefighters’ Buckle: Silver colored, FWFD Panther buckle
• Officer's Buckle: Gold colored, FWFD Panther buckle
• Socks: Black
• Shoes/Boots: Solid black, dress, smooth leather, round toe shoes or boots
• Hat for Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs, and Deputy Chiefs: White bell crown cap, white cap band, gold Mylar cap strap, gold cap medallion (rank-specific)
• Hat for Battalion Chiefs: White bell crown cap, black cap band, gold Mylar cap strap, gold cap medallion (rank-specific)
• Hat for Captains and Lieutenants: Black bell crown cap, black cap band, gold Mylar cap strap, gold cap medallion (rank-specific)
• Hat for Engineers and Firefighters: Black bell crown cap, black cap band, silver Mylar cap strap, silver cap medallion (Firefighter Scramble)

Insignia and Longevity

• Insignia and coat buttons are gold colored for all Officers and silver colored for all Engineers and Firefighters
• One Maltese cross for each five years of fire service to be worn on the left sleeve only, above the rank designation

Rank Designation

• Identified by narrow (1/2") wide stripes near sleeve cuff:
  • Fire Chief: 6 narrow, gold
  • Assistant Chief: 5 narrow, gold
  • Deputy Chief: 4 narrow, gold
  • Battalion Chief: 3 narrow, gold
  • Captain: 2 narrow, gold
  • Lieutenant: 1 narrow, gold
  • Engineer: 2 narrow, silver
  • Firefighter: 1 narrow, silver

Special Uniforms: Cowboy Hats

• Cowboy hats must be black, felt, Stetson style with a standard long oval shape and a 4" brim
• They have a cattleman's crease on the crown, plain, black hatband only, and no other decorations or hat pins are permitted
• Cowboy hats must be clean and maintained professionally, and purchased by the firefighter and are not provided as part of the uniform complement
• Cowboy hats may be worn with the dress uniform at specific events with consent of the Fire Chief
• The Fire Chief may approve other clothing combinations for wear by designated persons

Badges and Accessories

• Civil Service personnel are issued and maintain badges, insignias of rank, name tags, and belt buckles
• The furnished badges and insignia set will be comprised of one shirt badge, one name tag, and one set of collar insignia; an additional name tag and set of collar insignia will be issued if a coat badge is provided

Badge and Insignia Details

• Officers have gold plate insignia
  • Chief: 5 crossed bugles
  • Assistant Chief: 4 crossed bugles
  • Deputy Chief: 3 crossed bugles
  • Battalion Chief: 2 crossed bugles
  • Captain: 2 parallel bugles
  • Lieutenant: 1 bugle
• Engineer/Firefighter Insignia: Silver scramble badge and Silver FD insignia on collar
• Collar insignia placement:
  • Firefighters/Engineers should wear “F.D." parallel to the bottom of the collar 1½" from edges
  • Officers: Bugles shall align with collar tip ¼" from collar edges
• Badge Sizes: Coat (2-3/4") and Shirt (2-1/2")
• Name tags are to be worn on the left shirt pocket flap, centered between the button and top edge
• Buckles follow the same guidelines as for operational uniforms

Uniform Replacement and Resignation

• Fire Supply will exchange damaged or unsuitable uniforms upon receipt of Form F.D. 703 approved by the Battalion Chief
• The Department will replace damaged or lost badges, collar insignias, or name tags upon receipt of Form F.D. 703 approved by their Battalion Chief
• Upon retirement, death, or promotion, badges may be kept with the Fire Chief’s approval, but upon resignation or indefinite suspension, the Fire Chief shall require surrender of badges, insignia of rank, and issued uniforms

This lesson outlines the uniform guidelines for fire department personnel. It covers approved uniform items, maintenance expectations, and procedures for obtaining uniforms. Key topics include uniform identification requirements, issued garments, and physical fitness attire.