Fire Department Uniform & SOP Questions

Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) has established standard operating procedures for uniforms.
The policy number is S 1104 R17, effective July 21, 2023, replacing S 1104 R16 (04.08.2021).
The review cycle for this policy is annual.
Uniforms must adhere to FWFD uniform policies and be approved by the Fire Chief for on-duty wear.
The department provides badges, belt buckles, insignias of rank, and name tags upon hiring and promotion.
Uniforms must display the wearer's name, rank, certification level, and organization.
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 official City of Fort Worth patches, pins, or service ribbons are authorized.
Work shirts must be tucked in, shoes polished, and a belt worn at all times.
Company members are required to dress alike by uniform class for all duty-related activities.
Personnel are responsible for maintaining issued garments.

Operations Garments:

Five work trousers (BDU pants and shorts)
Three uniform polo shirts (long and short sleeve)
Five uniform T-shirts (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 includes:
- Two sweatshirts
- Two pairs of sweatpants
- Three pairs of shorts

Non-Operations Garments:

Operations-qualified personnel must maintain at least one Operations approved work uniform.
Five white dress shirts/polo (long and short sleeve)
Five black trousers
Blue uniform polo shirts (Training staff only)
Blue T-Shirts (Training staff only)
NFPA compliant clothing is required when entering a hazard area.
Personnel can buy more uniforms/fitness clothing through Fire Supply via payroll deduction.
The Fire Chief, Duty Chief, Assistant Chief, Shift Deputy Chief, or Battalion Chief can direct a specific uniform through the Station Officer.

Operations Uniform Details

Uniform polo shirts must be gray or white, feature embroidered name and rank on the right side, and display the Fort Worth Fire Department on the back.
Uniform T-shirts must be gray, have embroidered name and rank on the right side, and display the Fort Worth Fire Department on the back.
Uniform T-shirts can have approved apparatus logos screen printed on the right sleeve at the firefighter's expense.
Only Executive Staff-approved logos related to station pride may be displayed; no other pictures or logos are allowed.
Operations, Alarm Office, and Training members can wear the uniform T-shirt, while training personnel should wear the polo in classroom/office settings.
The uniform T-shirt can be worn for daily activities, exercise, standard emergency responses, and under PPE.
The uniform T-shirt is not for training (except on the fire ground), public events, Show and Tell, pre-fire plans, commercial building inspections, or when directed by a superior officer; the polo shirt is appropriate for these situations.
Trousers include BDU pants and shorts
Belts must be black, smooth leather
Buckles have the following stipulations:.
- Silver for firefighters pre-apprenticeship program completion with a plain design
- Silver colored FWFD Panther buckle for Engineers and Firefighters
- Gold colored FWFD Panther buckle for Officers
Shoes/boots must be solid black, including round toe shoes or boots, athletic shoes, or lace-up combat style boots.
Solid black, low quarter athletic or round toe leather shoes with white or black ankle socks are allowed for wear with BDU shorts.
Jackets should have name and rank on the front and can be a pullover fleece job shirt, hooded sweatshirt, reflective rain jacket, or all-weather reflective jacket.
A ball cap issued by Supply or approved by the Fire Chief or designee is part of the uniform
Non-Operations personnel must maintain at least one Operations approved work uniform.

Non-Operations Uniform Details

Shirts can be white (button down) collared shirts or gray/white polo shirts with name and rank embroidered on the right side and Fort Worth Fire Department on the back.
Trousers include BDU pants and shorts, and black uniform pants. Belts must be black, smooth leather
Buckles have the following stipulations:
- Silver for firefighters pre-apprenticeship program completion with a plain design
- Silver colored FWFD Panther buckle for Engineers and Firefighters
- Gold colored FWFD Panther buckle for Officers
Shoes/boots must be solid black, including round toe shoes or boots, athletic shoes, or lace-up combat style boots.
Solid black, low quarter athletic or round toe leather shoes with white or black ankle socks are allowed for wear with the BDU shorts.
Jackets should have name and rank on the front and can be a pullover fleece job shirt, hooded sweatshirt, reflective rain jacket, or FWFD all-weather reflective jacket
A ball cap issued by Supply is part of the uniform

Physical Fitness Clothing

Shirts include a uniform T-shirt or sweatshirt.
Trousers include gym shorts or sweatpants.
Socks must be white or black ankle socks. Shoes should be appropriate athletic shoes.
Uniform shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and workout shorts can be worn while exercising, during health and fitness evaluations, as sleeping attire, and during station/apparatus maintenance and cleanup, and during hydrant/hose testing.
Fitness clothing cannot be worn as outerwear during emergencies unless authorized by the Fire Chief or designee.

Class-A Dress Uniform

Personnel must maintain at least one Class-A uniform for functions designated by the Fire Chief or designee.
Coat: Black, Lighthouse Signature Line (SDB), double-breasted, tropical worsted, wool/polyester blend, with military-type cloth-bound holes, one welt breast pocket, two lower hip welt pockets, six FD gold or silver buttons, name tag one inch above breast pocket, rank insignia on the collar, and the FWFD patch on the left shoulder; no other patches are 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 appropriate rank insignia on the collar and arm patches issued by Fire Supply.
Necktie: Black, plain, flat finish.
Belt: Black, smooth leather.
Buckles have the following stipulations:
- Silver for firefighters pre-apprenticeship program completion with a plain design
- Silver colored FWFD Panther buckle for Engineers and Firefighters
- Gold colored FWFD Panther buckle for Officers
Socks: Black.
Shoes/Boots: Solid black, dress, smooth leather, round toe shoes or boots.
Hat: Hats will have the following stipulations:
- Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs: White bell crown cap, white cap band, gold Mylar cap strap, gold cap medallion – rank specific
- Battalion Chiefs: White bell crown cap, black cap band, gold Mylar cap strap, gold cap medallion - rank specific
- Captains and Lieutenants: Black bell crown cap, black cap band, gold Mylar cap strap, gold cap medallion – rank specific.
- Engineers and Firefighters: Black bell crown cap, black cap band, silver Mylar cap strap, silver cap medallion – Firefighter Scramble.
All Officer insignia and coat buttons must be gold colored, while all Engineers and Firefighters insignia and coat buttons must be silver colored.
Service longevity is indicated by one Maltese cross for each five years of fire service, worn on the left sleeve only, above the rank designation.

Rank Designation

Narrow (1/2") wide stripes near the sleeve cuff will designate rank:
- 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 a black, felt Stetson style, with a standard long oval shape and a 4" brim, a cattleman's crease on the crown, and a plain, black hatband only with no other decorations or hat pins.
Cowboy hats must be clean and maintained in a professional manner and purchased by the firefighter, not provided as part of the uniform.
Cowboy hats may be worn with the dress uniform at specific events with the Fire Chief’s permission.
The Fire Chief can approve other clothing combinations for wear by designated persons.

Badges and Insignia:

The furnished set includes one shirt badge, one name tag, and one set of collar insignia; a coat badge receives an additional name tag and collar insignia set.
Badges and Collar Insignia Placement:
- Officers: Gold plate is used with:
  - 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:
  - Silver scramble badge
  - Silver FD
Firefighters/Engineers shall wear collar insignia with “F.D." parallel to the bottom of the collar 1½" from edges, while Officers must align bugles with the collar tip ¼" from collar edges
Badge Sizes include;
- Coat: 2-3/4"
- Shirt: 2-1/2"
Name tags shall be worn on the left shirt pocket flap, centered between the button and top edge

Buckles by Rank:

Firefighters pre-apprenticeship program completion: Silver colored, plain only
Engineers and Firefighters: Silver colored, FWFD Panther buckle
Officers: Gold colored, FWFD Panther buckle.
Civil Service personnel are issued and maintain badges, insignias of rank, name tags, and belt buckles.
Fire Supply will exchange damaged or unsuitable uniforms with Form F.D. 703 approval by the Battalion Chief.
The Department will replace all damaged or lost badges, collar insignias, or name tags with Form F.D. 703 approval by their Battalion Chief.
Upon retirement, death, or promotion, badges, etc., may be kept with the Fire Chief’s approval.
Upon resignation or indefinite suspension, the Fire Chief requires the surrender of badges, insignia of rank, and issued uniforms.