List of comparative firefighting ranks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Across the world, there is significant variation in the ranks used by fire departments, with this variance representing the diverse origins of firefighting in each country. Many nations use military-inspired ranks as firefighting in their nation originated with military units - for some countries, the military still performs civilian firefighting and so firefighting units will use the rank structures of said military. In other nations, firefighting may be a responsibility of the police, who also often use military-inspired rank structures. In other countries, rank structures were designed to be explicitly civilian, especially those which have been developed in more modern eras.
Rank insignia also varies heavily by country, often incorporating national symbols or rank devices which correlate with other public bodies. There is commonly a distinction made between rank insignia used on formal uniforms, which is designed to look smart and represent the values of the department and/or nation, and rank insignia used on personal protective equipment which must be resistant to contamination and highly visible to facilitate easy identification of commanders on the fireground.
Australia
New South Wales
- FRNSW Career Firefighters[1]
| Rank | Commissioner | Deputy Commissioner | Assistant Commissioner | Chief Superintendent | Superintendent | Inspector | Leading Station Officer | Station Officer | Leading Firefighter | Senior Firefighter 15 years service |
Senior Firefighter | Qualified Firefighter | Firefighter Level 2
(Probationary) |
Firefighter Level 1
(Probationary) |
Recruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
No Epaulettes
(Number 2 displayed on sides of helmet) |
No Epaulettes
(Number 1 displayed on sides of helmet) |
- FRNSW Retained firefighters
| Rank | Retained Captain | Retained Deputy Captain | Retained Firefighter 15 years service |
Retained Firefighter 10 years service |
Retained Firefighter 5 years service |
Retained Firefighter | Recruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia | No Insignia | Both Recruit and Student epaulettes used |
- NSW Rural Fire Service
| Operational Rank | Membership Type | Insignia[2] |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioner | NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer |  |
| Deputy Commissioner | NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer |  |
| Senior Assistant Commissioner |  | |
| Assistant Commissioner | NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer |  |
| Chief Superintendent | NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
| Superintendent | NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
| Inspector | NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
| Group Captain/Officer L3 | Volunteer/NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
| Deputy Group Captain/Officer L2 | Volunteer/NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
| Officer L1 | NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
| Captain | Volunteer |  |
| Senior Deputy Captain | Volunteer |  |
| Deputy Captain | Volunteer |  |
| Mitigation Crew Leader | NSW Government Public Service Officer | |
| Firefighter | Volunteer | |
| Member/Mitigation Crew Member | Volunteer/NSW Government Public Service Officer |  |
Victoria
- Victoria Country Fire Authority
| Administrative ranks for volunteer firefighters | Helmet insignia | Epaulette | Hardboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group officer |  |
 |
N/A |
| Deputy group officer |  |
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N/A |
| Operational ranks for volunteer firefighters | Helmet insignia | Epaulette | Hardboard |
| Captain |  |
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| 1st lieutenant |  |
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| 2nd to 5th lieutenant | |
|
N/A |
| Firefighter |  |
N/A |
N/A |
Western Australia
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services
| Executive and Managers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Commissioner | Deputy Commissioner | Assistant Commissioner | Chief Superintendent | Superintendent | District Officer Urban & Rural Fire |
District Officer Natural Hazards |
Area Officers | Community Emergency Services Manager |
| Rank insignia |  |
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| Professional Firefighters | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Station Officer | Leading Firefighter | Senior Firefighter Fifteen years service |
Senior Firefighter | Firefighter 1st & 2nd class |
Firefighter 3rd, 4th & 5th class |
Firefighter Trainee |
| Rank insignia |  |
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| Volunteer Firefighters | Volunteer Administrator | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Captain | Lieutenant | Apparatus Officer | Leading Firefighter | Senior Firefighter | Qualified Firefighter | Firefighter | Volunteer Secretary |
| Rank insignia |  |
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Austria
Salzburg Volunteer Fire Department
| Higher ranks | Administrative ranks | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Landesbranddirektor (LBD) | Landesbranddirektor-Stv. (LBD-Stv.) | Oberbrandrat (OBR) | Brandrat (BR) | Hauptverwalter (HV) | Oberverwalter (OV) | Verwalter (V) |
| Rank insignia |  |
 |
 |
 |
_in_Tirol,_Hauptverwalter_(HV)_in_Kärnten_und_Salzburg.svg) |
_in_Tirol,_Oberverwalter_(OV)_in_Kärnten_und_Salzburg.svg) |
_in_Kärnten_und_Salzburg.svg) |
| Leading ranks | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Abteilungsbrandinspektor (ABI) | Hauptbrandinspektor (HBI) | Oberbrandinspektor (OBI) | Brandinspektor (BI) | Hauptbrandmeister (HBM) | Oberbrandmeister (OBM) | Brandmeister (BM) |
| Rank insignia |  |
 |
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| Sub-officers/crew commanders | Firefighters and leading firefighters | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Hauptlöschmeister (HLM) | Oberlöschmeister (OLM) | Löschmeister (LM) | Löschmeister (LM) 18 years as firefighter |
Hauptfeuerwehrmann (HFM) | Oberfeuerwehrmann (OFM) | Feuerwehrmann (FM) | Probefeuerwehrmann (PFM) |
| Rank insignia |  |
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|
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Belgium
Modern ranks Source:[3]
| Officers (higher cadre) | NCOs (middle cadre) | Enlisted (basic cadre) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
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| French | Colonel | Major | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Adjudant | Sergent | Caporal | Sapeur-pompier |
| Dutch | Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Luitenant | Adjudant | Sergeant | Korporaal | Brandweerman |
Pre-2015 ranks
| Officers (higher cadre) | NCOs (middle cadre) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
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| French | Lieutenant-colonel | Capitaine-commandant | Sous-lieutenant | Adjudant-chef | Sergent-major | Premier Sergent |
| Dutch | Luitenant-Kolonel | Kapitein-Commandant | Onder-luitenant | Opperadjudant | Sergeant-majoor | Eerste sergeant |
Brazil
Officer grades
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Military Firefighters Corps |
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| Coronel | Tenente-coronel | Major | Capitão | Primeiro tenente | Segundo tenente | |||||||||||||||||||
NCO and enlisted grades
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Firefighters Corps |
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| Subtenente | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Cabo | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro segunda classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canada
Ranking categories and insignia in the Canadian fire service is common across the country, with minor variations, often based on department size. Virtually every fire department in Canada has at least a fire chief, and usually captains.
Rank insignia is worn either on the collar, (colloquially called "collar dogs" or "collar brass"), or on epaulets, and in some cases, both. Also badges, which also denote rank, are worn in some regions.
Badge, stripe and trumpet colours are a further denotation, silver being non-Chief ranks, gold reserved for Chiefs.
Like the United States, Canada uses speaking trumpets for rank indication - a reference to a megaphone-like device used in the early days of the fire service, for officer ranks. Typically, silver trumpets indicate lieutenant (1 trumpet) or captain (2 trumpets), and gold indicates Chief officer ranks, ranging 2 trumpets (Battalion or District Chief) up to 5 trumpets (Fire Chief).
Due to close ties and histories with Britain, there are also considerable ranking similarities to the United Kingdom, including the use of rank insignia on uniform epaulettes.
Toronto
| Rank | Fire chief | Deputy fire chief | Division commander | Platoon chief | District chief | Captain | First class firefighter | Second class firefighter | Probationary firefighter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
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None | None | None |
Montreal
| Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Firefighter/firefighter instructor | no insignia |
| Interim lieutenant | 1 silver stripe |
| Lieutenant/lieutenant instructor | 2 silver stripes |
| Captain | 3 silver stripes |
| Operations chief | 1 thick yellow stripe |
| Division chief | 1 thick and 1 thin yellow stripe |
| Assistant chief | 1 thick and 2 thin yellow stripes |
| Deputy chief | 1 thick and 3 thin yellow stripes |
| Fire chief | 1 thick and 4 thin yellow stripes plus star |
Vancouver
| Fire chief | Deputy fire chief | Assistant chief | Battalion chief | Training officer | Captain | Lieutenant | Firefighter | Probationary firefighter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank epaulettes |  |
 |
 |
 |
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No insignia | No insignia |
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No insignia | No insignia |
Colombia
Chile
Ranks are divided between company officers and fire department officers, which can be subdivided between active officers (field officers) and administrative officers. The active officers are the captain, and three or four lieutenants, these four active officers are distinguished by red lines on their helmets.
China
| Commissioner | Deputy commissioner | Assistant commissioner | Commanders | Battalion chiefs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg){kind=icon} |
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| Director general | Deputy director general |
Assistant director general |
Senior commander | Commander I | Commander II | Commander III | Battalion chief I | Battalion chief II | Battalion chief III | Battalion chief IV | |
| Senior firefighters | Intermediate firefighters | Junior firefighters | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Captain I | Captain II | Captain III | Firefighter I | Firefighter II | Firefighter III | Firefighter IV | Probationary firefighter | |
Czech Republic
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Insignia |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Generál- poručík |
Generál- major |
Brigádní generál | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík | Nadpraporčík | Praporčík | Podpraporčík | Nadstrážmistr | Strážmistr | Rotný |
Cyprus
| Rank | Chief Fire Officer | Deputy Chief Fire Officer |
Assistant Chief Fire Officer |
Station Manager |
Watch Manager |
Crew Manager | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia | .png) | .png) | .png) | .png) | .png) | .png) |  |
Denmark
| Rank epaulettes[4] |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Direktør | Vicedirektør | Afdelingschef | Områdeleder | Beredskabsinspektør | Viceberedskabsinspektør | Beredskabsmester | Viceberedskabsmester | Deltidsholdleder m. instruktør | Deltidsholdleder | Beredskabsassistent |
| Direct translation of Danish ranks | Emergency director/ Emergency chief |
Deputy emergency director/ Deputy emergency chief |
Department chief/ Area chief |
Area manager | Fire inspector | Deputy fire inspector/ Station master |
Emergency master/ Fire master |
Deputy emergency master/ Deputy fire master |
Part-time team leader with instructor skills | Part-time team leader | Fire assistant/ Emergency assistant |
| Equivalent in London Fire Brigade | Commissioner | Deputy commissioner | Assistant commissioner | Deputy assistant commissioner | Group manager | Station manager | Station officer | Sub-officer | No equivalent | No equivalent | Firefighter |
France
Civilian fire fighters
Civilian fire services uses the following ranks. The chief fire officer of a departemental fire brigade can be a comptroller general, a colonel senior class or a colonel, depending on the size of the brigade.
| Ministry of Interior | Civilian professional firefighters class A+ | Civilian professional firefighters class A | Civilian professional firefighters class B | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Directeur Général de la sécurité civile et de la gestion des crises | Directeur des sapeurs-pompiers (directeur adjoint du DGSCGC) |
Contrôleur général (officiers investis de responsabilités particulières envers l'État) |
Contrôleur général | Colonel hors-classe Colonel |
Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant hors classe Lieutenant de 1re classe Lieutenant de 2e classe | |
| Civilian professional firefighters class C | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Adjudant-Chef | Adjudant | Sergent-Chef | Sergent | Caporal-Chef | Caporal | Sapeur de 1re classe | Sapeur de 2e classe | |
Paris Fire Brigade
The Paris Fire Brigade belongs to the army and uses army ranks with the corps of engineers badge. The commanding officer has the rank of divisional general.
| Officers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant |
| Rank insignia [5] |  |
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| Non-commissioned officers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-Chef | Sergent with 2nd level specialty training |
Sergent | |
| Rank insignia[5] |  |
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 | |
| Firefighters | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Caporal-chef with a 1st grade technical certificate |
Caporal-chef with 15 years service |
Caporal-chef | Caporal with 15 years service |
Caporal | Sapeur de 1re classe with 15 years service |
Sapeur de 1re classe |
Sapeur de 2nd classe |
| Rank insignia [5] |  |
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Marseille Naval Fire Battalion
The Marseille Naval Fire Battalion belongs to the navy and uses naval ranks. The commanding officer has the rank of rear admiral.
Germany
In Germany every federal state has its own civil protection laws thus they have different rank systems. In the professional fire brigades, the intermediate technical fire service requires basic fire fighter training for employment, advanced fire technical service requires a bachelor's degree from a fire college or promotion from the intermediate service, while higher technical fire service requires a master's degree from a university. Additionally, in the volunteer fire departments, there is a difference between a rank and an official position. This is founded on the military traditions of the fire departments. Every firefighter can hold a high rank without having an official position. A firefighter can be promoted by years of service, training skills and qualifications. Official positions are partly elected or given by capabilities. These conditions allow that older ordinary firefighters have higher ranks than their leaders. But through this ranks are no authorities given (brevet rank).
Rheinland-Pfalz
Professional fire fighters (intermediate technical grades) Completed vocational training in a technical occupation suitable for the fire service. Basic firefighter training.
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| Brandmeister/-in während der Laufbahnausbildung |
Brandmeister | Oberbrandmeister | Hauptbrandmeister |
Professional fire fighters (advanced technical grades) Bachelor of engineering and two years departmental training
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| Brandinspektorenanwärter | Brandinspektor | Brandoberinspektor | Brandamtmann | Brandamtsrat | Brandoberamtsrat |
Professional fire fighters (higher technical grades)
Master of engineering and two years of departmental training
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| Brandreferendar | Brandrat | Oberbrandrat | Branddirektor | Leitender Branddirektor Ministerialrat |
Leitender Ministerialrat | Landesfeuerwehrinspekteur |
Helmet insignia
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| Company leaders | Upper technical grades, battalion chiefs | Higher technical grades, fire chiefs |
Saxony
Professional fire brigades
| Higher technical fire service | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank [6] | Direktor in der Feuerwehr |
Leitender Branddirektor | Branddirektor | Brandoberrat | Brandrat | Brandreferendar | ||
| Rank insignia [6] |  |
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 | ||
| Functions [7] [a] | Chief officer | Chief officer Deputy chief officer Assistant chief officer |
Chief officer Deputy chief officer Assistant chief officer Deputy assistant chief officer |
Chief officer Deputy chief officer Assistant chief officer Deputy assistant chief officer Area commander |
Assistant chief officer Deputy assistant chief officer Group commander |
Trainee | ||
- Which functions which ranks hold depends on the size of the fire brigade.
- Promoted from intermediate service.
Volunteer fire brigades
| Fire service technical staff | Management | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank [8] | Brandamtsrat [a] | Hauptbrandinspektor | Oberbrandinspektor | Brandinspektor | Hauptbrandmeister | Oberbrandmeister | Brandmeister |
| Rank insignia [8] |  [9] |
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| Functions [10] | Chief district fire officer | Chief district fire officer | Deputy chief district fire officer | Fire chief [b] | Fire chief [c] | Fire chief [d] | Watch commander |
Feuerschutzpolizei (1938-1945)
The Feuerschutzpolizei was formed in 1938 as a branch of the Ordnungspolizei, formed in 1938 when the German municipal professional fire brigades were transferred to the national police. The previously red fire vehicles, blue uniforms and fire service ranks were replaced by green fire vehicles, green uniforms and police ranks.
| Professional fire departments in Prussia 1935–1938 |
Feuerschutzpolizei 1938–1941 |
Feuerschutzpolizei 1941–1945 |
Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|
– |
– |
Generalleutnant | |
| Oberbranddirektor[a] | Generalmajor | Generalmajor | |
| Oberbranddirektor Branddirektor |
Oberst | Oberst | |
| Oberbaurat | Oberstleutnant | Oberstleutnant | |
| Baurat | Major | Major | |
| Brandingenieur Brandoberingenieur Baurat[b] |
Hauptmann | Hauptmann |  |
– |
– |
Bezirkshauptmann | |
– |
Inspektor | Bezirksoberleutnant |  |
| Oberbrandmeister | Obermeister | Leutnant |  |
– |
– |
Bezirksleutnant | |
| Brandmeister | Meister | Meister | |
| Löschmeister | Hauptwachtmeister | Hauptwachtmeister |  |
| Oberfeuerwehrmann | Bezirksoberwachtmeister | Bezirksoberwachtmeister |  |
– |
Oberwachtmeister | Oberwachtmeister |  |
| Feuerwehrmann | Wachtmeister | Wachtmeister |  |
– |
– |
Rottwachtmeister | |
– |
– |
Unterwachtmeister[c] |  |
– |
– |
Anwärter[c][d] | No insignia |
– |
– |
Anwärter[c] |
Greece
| Title | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Fire major | Fire captain | Fire lieutenant | Fire second lieutenant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek title | Αντιστράτηγος Antistrátigos |
Υποστράτηγος Ypostrátigos |
Αρχιπύραρχος Archipýrarchos |
Πύραρχος Pýrarchos |
Αντιπύραρχος Antipýrarchos |
Επιπυραγός Epipyragós |
Πυραγός Pyragós |
Υποπυραγός Ypopyragós |
Ανθυποπυραγός Anthypopyragós |
| Insignia |  |
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| Title | Warrant officer (NCO) | Master sergeant | Sergeant | Senior firefighter | Firefighter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek title | Πυρονόμος Pyronómos |
Αρχιπυροσβέστης Παραγωγικής Σχολής Archipyrosvéstis Paragogikís Scholís |
Αρχιπυροσβέστης Μη Παραγωγικής Σχολής Archipyrosvéstis Mi Paragogikís Scholís |
Υπαρχιπυροσβέστης Yparchipyrosvéstis |
Πυροσβέστης Pyrosvéstis |
| Insignia |  |
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Hungary
Officer grades
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 National Directorate General for Disaster Management |
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| Tűzoltó ezredes | Tűzoltó alezredes | Tűzoltó őrnagy | Tűzoltó százados | Tűzoltó főhadnagy | Tűzoltó hadnagy | |||||||||||||||||||
NCO and enlisted grades
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Directorate General for Disaster Management |
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| Tűzoltó főtörzszászlós | Tűzoltó törzszászlós | Tűzoltó zászlós | Tűzoltó főtörzsőrmester | Tűzoltó törzsőrmester | Tűzoltó őrmester | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
India
In the Indian fire services, the ranks and hierarchy may vary slightly across different states and organizations. The specific rank names and their corresponding responsibilities may vary across different states and organizations in India. The following ranks are commonly found in indian fire departments.[11]
- Director general, fire and rescue services (head of the department) (IPS cadre officer in the rank of DGP)
- Director/additional director
- Regional fire officer/ divisional officer/joint director
- District fire officer
- Station officer, (in-charge of fire stations)
- Assistant station officer
- Senior fire and rescue officer/senior fireman/leading fireman
- Fire and rescue officer/fireman/ fireman (driver), (this is the entry-level position in the fire service.)
Indonesia
Firefighters in Indonesia form part of the civil service of local governments and wear variant forms of uniforms worn by civil servants and employees.
| Rank category | Rank category number | Rank in Indonesian | Equivalent rank (with US general schedule and UK civil service paygrade) |
Rank in English (Provincial/city/municipal/regency/district fire service personnel only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directors and commissioners | IV/e | Pembina Utama | Director general senior executive service level V, pay band 3 A7 |
Director |
| IV/d | Pembina Utama Madya | Director senior executive service level V pay band 2 A7 |
Chief commissioner | |
| IV/c | Pembina Utama Muda | Deputy director GS-15, pay band 2 A6 |
Commander | |
| Subaltern and field ranked officers | IV/b | Pembina Tingkat I | Assistant director GS-14, grade 6 A5 |
Senior commissioner |
| IV/a | Pembina | Senior executive officer 1st class GS-14, grade 7 A4 |
Commissioner | |
| III/d | Penata Tingkat I | Senior executive officer 2nd class GS-13, grade 7 A3 |
Battalion chief | |
| III/c | Penata | Higher executive officer 1st class GS-12, grade 7 A2 |
Captain | |
| Lieutenants | III/b | Penata Muda Tingkat I | Higher executive officer GS-11, A2 |
First lieutenant |
| III/a | Penata Muda | Executive officer 1st class GS-10, A2/B6 |
Second lieutenant | |
| Senior NCOs | II/d | Pengatur Tingkat I | Executive officer 2nd class GS-9, A1/B6 |
Station sub-officer |
| II/c | Pengatur | Executive officer GS-8, A1/B5 |
Brigadier major | |
| Junior NCOs | II/b | Pengatur Muda Tingkat I | Administrative officer class 1 GS-7, B4 |
Brigadier 1st class |
| II/a | Pengatur Muda | Administrative officer class 2 GS-6, B4 |
Senior brigader | |
| Basic level | I/d | Juru Tingkat I | Higher clerical officer 1st class GS-5, B3 |
Brigadier |
| I/c | Juru | Higher clerical officer GS-4/GS-3, B3 |
Junior brigadier | |
| I/b | Juru Muda Tingkat I | Clerical officer GS-2, B2 |
Senior firefighter | |
| I/a | Juru Muda | Administrative assistant GS-1, B1 |
Firefighter | |
Iran
In Iran, every city has its own fire department, but ranks are the same in the whole country, and are as follows:
| Rank | Persian | Collar/epaulette markings | Collar/epaulette markings (in Persian) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer firefighter III | آتش نشان داوطلب سوم | One golden bar | یک خط طلایی |
| Volunteer firefighter II | آتش نشان داوطلب دوم | Two golden bars | دو خط طلایی |
| Volunteer firefighter | آتش نشان داوطلب | Three golden bars | سه خط طلایی |
| Firefighter III | آتش نشان سوم | One silver bar | یک خط نقره ای |
| Firefighter II | آتش نشان دوم | Two silver bars | دو خط نقره ای |
| Firefighter | آتش نشان | Three silver bars | سه خط نقره ای |
| Head firefighter III | سرآتش نشان سوم | One flame with a thin silver bar below it and one golden bar | یک شعله با زیر پایه ی نقره ای نازک و یک خط طلایی |
| Head firefighter II | سرآتش نشان دوم | One flame with a thin silver bar below it and two golden bars | یک شعله با زیر پایه ی نقره ای نازک و دو خط طلایی |
| Head firefighter | سرآتش نشان | One flame with a thin silver bar below it and three golden bars | یک شعله با زیر پایه ی نقره ای نازک و سه خط طلایی |
| Master firefighter III | آتش یار سوم | One flame with golden border and silver bar below flame | یک شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر شعله |
| Master firefighter II | آتش یار دوم | Two flames with golden border and silver bar below each flame | دو شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر هر شعله |
| Master firefighter | آتش یار | Three flames with golden border and silver bar below each flame | سه شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر هر شعله |
| Head master firefighter | سر آتش یار | Four flames with golden border and silver bar below each flame | چهار شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر هر شعله |
| Chief firefighter III | آتش پاد سوم | One empty golden wreath | یک حلقه گل طلایی خالی |
| Chief firefighter II | آتش پاد دوم | One golden wreath with a flame inside it | یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش |
| Chief firefighter | آتش پاد | One golden wreath with a flame inside it and a silver bar below them | یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و یک خط نقره ای زیر آنها |
| Chief master firefighter III | فرآتش پاد سوم | One golden wreath with a flame inside it and two silver bars below them | یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و دو خط نقره ای زیر آنها |
| Chief master firefighter II | فرآتش پاد دوم | One golden wreath with a flame inside it and three silver bars below them | یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و سه خط نقره ای زیر آنها |
| Chief master firefighter | فرآتش پاد | One golden wreath with a flame inside it and four silver bars below them | یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و چهار خط نقره ای زیر آنها |
Ireland
Ireland's fire service is provided by its 31 local authorities. The four Dublin local authorities provide an unified fire service for County Dublin. Dublin Fire Brigade also provides an emergency ambulance service. Galway City Council and Galway County Council also provide a unified fire service. Whereas Cork City Council and Cork County Council provide separate fire services. The remaining local authorities provide a fire service for their respective county.[12] Ireland's ranks and insignia are similar across the country, with some differences in Dublin Fire Brigade.
| Structure | County brigades | Dublin Fire Brigade[13] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Insignia | Helmet | Insignia | Helmet |
| Firefighter |  |
Yellow | |
Yellow |
| Leading firefighter or driver mechanic |
 |
Yellow, one 12 mm horizontal black stripe | This rank is not used in Dublin | |
| Sub officer |  |
Yellow, two 12 mm horizontal black stripes | |
Yellow, two 12 mm horizontal black stripes |
| Station officer |  |
White, one 19 mm horizontal black stripe | |
White, one 12 mm horizontal black stripe |
| District officer (operations) or district FPO |
DO Dublin only, Third Fire Officer Dublin and Cork City only |  |
White, one 19 mm horizontal black stripe | |
| Third officer (operations) or executive FPO |
 |
White, two horizontal black stripes (one 19 mm, one 12 mm) | ||
| Senior assistant chief fire officer |  |
White, one 38 mm horizontal broad black stripe | This rank is not used in Dublin | |
| Chief fire officer |  |
White, two 38 mm horizontal broad black stripes | |
White, one 38 mm horizontal broad black stripe |
| Key: FPO = fire prevention officer | ||||
Israel
Officers
 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rav tafsar (רב טפסר) |
Tafsar (טפסר) |
Tat tafsar (תת טפסר) |
Tafsar mishne (טפסר משנה) |
Segan tafsar (סגן טפסר) |
Ráv Reshef (רב רשף) |
Reshef (רשף) |
Lahav (להב) |
Lahav mishne (להב משנה) | ||||||||||||
| English | Lieutenant general firefighter |
Major general firefighter |
Brigadier general firefighter |
Colonel firefighter |
Lieutenant colonel firefighter |
Major firefighter |
Captain firefighter |
First lieutenant firefighter |
Second lieutenant firefighter | |||||||||||
Other Ranks
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rav semel bakhir kabai (רב-סמל בכיר-כבאי) |
Rav semel rishon kabai (רב-סמל ראשון-כבאי) |
Rav semel kabai (רב-סמל-כבאי) |
Semel kabai (סמל כבאי) |
Rav kabai (רב כבאי) |
Lokhem esh rishon (לוחם אש ראשון) |
Lokhem esh (לוחם אש) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| English | Sergeant major firefighter |
Master sergeant firefighter |
Sergeant 1st class firefighter |
Sergeant firefighter |
Corporal firefighter |
Senior firefighter | Firefighter | |||||||||||||||||||
Italy
| Chief fire officers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Dirigente generale Capo di corpo |
Dirigente generale | Dirigente superiore di livello C |
Dirigente superiore di livello D |
Dirigente superiore di livello E |
Dirigente superiore di livello F | |
| Fire officers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
 |
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 |
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| Direttore vice dirigente con funzioni dei vicario dei dirigente di livello E |
Direttore vice dirigente | Direttore | Vice direttore | |
| Station commanders | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Sostituto direttore antincendi capo esperto | Sostituto direttore antincendi capo | Sostituto direttore antincendi | Ispettore antincendi coordinatore | Ispettore antincendi esperto | Ispettore antincendi | |
| Crew commanders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Caporeparto | Caposquadra esperto | Caposquadra | ||
| Firefighters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Vigile del fuoco coordinatore | Vigile del fuoco esperto | Vigile del fuoco | ||
| Volunteer firefighters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Funzionario tecnico antincendi volontario | Caporeparto volontario | Caposquadra volontario | Vigile del fuoco volontario | |
Japan
Municipal fire departments
The rank structure and insignia of the career municipal fire departments of Japan are dictated in regulations published by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the nation's coordinating body for fire and rescue services. In formal and station wear, rank is indicated by a small rectangular badge, normally worn on the left breast, consisting of varying numbers of lines and stars (the star used on the badge is the Firefighter's Emblem of Japan), whereas in operational wear rank is normally indicated by bands on the headwear of varying number and thickness according to rank.
| Rank[1] | Roles in a department serving the special wards (Tokyo Fire Department)[14] | Roles in a department serving a designated city or over 700,000 residents[14] | Roles in a department serving 300,000 to 700,000 residents[14] | Roles in a department serving 100,000 to 300,000 residents[14] | Roles in a department serving less than 100,000 residents[14] | Badge Insignia[15] | Helmet Markings[15] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Chief (aka Fire Superintendent-General)
Japanese: 消防総監 Hepburn: Shōbō sōkan |
Chief of the Department |  |
 | ||||
| Deputy Chief (aka Fire Chief Superintendent)
Japanese: 消防司監 Hepburn: Shōbō shikan |
Vice-Chief of the Department,
HQ Chief of Division |
Chief of the Department |  |
 | |||
| First Assistant Chief (aka Fire Senior Superintendent)
Japanese:消防正監 Hepburn: Shōbō seikan |
HQ Chief of Division,
District Chief |
Vice-Chief of the Department,
HQ Chief of Division, Station Chief |
Chief of the Department |  |
 | ||
| Assistant Chief (aka Fire Superintendent)
Japanese:消防監 Hepburn: Shōbō kan |
Counsellor of the Department,
HQ Chief of Section, Station Chief |
HQ Chief of Section,
Station Vice-Chief |
Vice-Chief of the Department,
HQ Chief of Division, Station Chief |
Chief of the Department |  |
 | |
| Battalion Chief (aka Fire Senior Commander)
Japanese:消防司令長 Hepburn: Shōbō shirei-chō |
HQ/Station Chief of Section,
Vice-Counsellor of the Department, Station Vice-Chief |
HQ/Station Chief of Section,
Battalion Commander |
HQ Chief of Section,
Station Vice-Chief, Battalion Commander |
Vice-Chief of the Department,
HQ/Station Chief of Section, Station Chief |
Chief of the Department |  |
 |
| Fire Captain (aka Fire Commander)
Japanese: 消防司令 Hepburn: Shōbō shirei |
HQ/Station Assistant Chief of Section,
HQ/Station Chief of Subsection, Battalion Commander |
HQ Assistant Chief of Section,
HQ/Station Chief of Subsection, Company Commander |
HQ/Station Assistant Chief of Section,
HQ Chief of Subsection, Company Commander, Platoon Commander |
HQ/Station Assistant Chief of Section | Vice-Chief of the Department,
HQ Chief of Section, HQ Assistant Chief of Section, Station Chief, Station-Vice Chief, Battalion Commander |
 |
 |
| Fire Lieutenant (aka Fire Assistant Commander)
Japanese: 消防司令補 Hepburn: Shōbō shirei-ho |
HQ/Station Senior Staff,
Company Commander, Platoon Commander |
HQ Senior Staff,
HQ Chief Examiner, Station Chief of Subsection, Platoon Commander |
HQ/Station Chief Examiner,
Station Chief of Subsection |
HQ/Station Chief of Subsection,
Company Commander |
HQ/Station Chief of Subsection,
Company Commander, Platoon Commander |
 |
 |
| Fire Sergeant (aka Firefighter Chief)
Hepburn: Shōbō shichō |
HQ Assistant Senior Staff,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Assistant Senior Staff,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ/Station Senior Staff,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ/Station Chief Examiner, Platoon Commander | HQ/Station Chief of Subsection,
HQ/Station Chief Examiner, Platoon Commander |
 |
 |
| Assistant Fire Sergeant (aka Assistant Firefighter Chief)
Japanese: 消防副士長 Hepburn: Shōbō fuku-shichō |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Assistant Senior Staff,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ/Station Assistant Chief Examiner | HQ/Station Senior Staff |  |
 |
| Firefighter
Japanese: 消防士 Hepburn: Shōbō shi |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
HQ Team Member,
Station Team Leader, Station Team Member |
 |
 |
Volunteer fire corps
The rank structure and insignia of the reserve volunteer fire corps of Japan are also dictated by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. As with the career departments, in formal and station wear, rank is indicated by a small rectangular badge, normally worn on the left breast, consisting of varying numbers of lines and stars (the star used on the badge in this case is the Volunteer Fire Corps Emblem of Japan), whereas in operational wear rank is normally indicated by bands on the headwear of varying number and thickness according to rank.
| Rank[3] | Volunteer Firefighter
Japanese: 団員 Hepburn: Dan'in |
Volunteer Crew Chief
Japanese: 班長 Hepburn: Hanchō |
Volunteer Company Chief
Japanese: 部長 Hepburn: Buchō |
Volunteer Assistant Squad Chief
Japanese: 副分団長 Hepburn: Fuku-bun danchō |
Volunteer Squad Chief
Japanese: 分団長 Hepburn: Bun danchō |
Volunteer Assistant Fire Chief
Japanese: 副団長 Hepburn: Fuku danchō |
Volunteer Fire Chief
Japanese: 団長 Hepburn: Danchō |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badge Insignia[16] |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Helmet Markings[16] |  |
 |
_Squad_Chief_Japanese_Helmet_Markings.png) |
 |
 | ||
Luxembourg
| Higher cadre of professional and volunteer fire fighters[17] Cadre supérieur des pompiers volontaires et professionnels | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
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| French | Directeur général | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Capitaine | Lieutenant 1ère classe | Lieutenant | Lieutenant-aspirant |
| English | Director general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant 1st class | Lieutenant | Aspirant lieutenant |
| Middle cadre of professional and volunteer fire fighters[17] Cadre moyen des pompiers volontaires et professionnels | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
 |
 |
 |
| French | Adjudant-major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant-aspirant |
| English | Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Aspirant warrant officer |
| Basic cadre of professional and volunteer fire fighters[17] Cadre de base des pompiers volontaires et professionnels | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
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| French | Sergent-major | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef 1ère classe | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Brigadier | Brigadier-aspirant |
| English | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant | Master corporal 1st class | Master corporal | Corporal | Brigadier | Aspirant brigadier |
Malaysia
| No. | Rank | Abbreviation | Rank (English) | Grade | Epaulet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder board | Collar badge | |||||
| Penguasa Bomba (fire superintendent) | ||||||
| 1 | Ketua Pesuruhjaya Bomba | KPjB | Chief fire commissioner | JUSA A | ||
| 2 | Pesuruhjaya Bomba | PjB | Fire commissioner | JUSA B | ||
| 3 | Timbalan Pesuruhjaya Bomba | TPjB | Deputy fire commissioner | JUSA C | ||
| 4 | Penolong Kanan Pesuruhjaya Bomba | PKPjB | Senior assistant fire commissioner | KB 54 | ||
| 5 | Penolong Pesuruhjaya Bomba | PPjB | Assistant fire commissioner | KB 52 | ||
| 6 | Penguasa Kanan Bomba I | PgKB I | Senior fire superintendent I | KB 48 | ||
| 7 | Penguasa Kanan Bomba II | PgKB II | Senior fire superintendent II | KB 44 | ||
| 8 | Penguasa Bomba | PgB | Fire superintendent | KB 41 | ||
| Penolong Penguasa Bomba (assistant fire superintendent) | ||||||
| 9 | Timbalan Penguasa Bomba | TPgB | Deputy fire superintendent | KB 38 | ||
| 10 | Penolong Kanan Penguasa Bomba | PKPgB | Senior assistant fire superintendent | KB 32 | ||
| 11 | Penolong Penguasa Bomba | PPgB | Assistant fire superintendent | KB 29 | ||
| Pegawai Bomba (fire officer) | ||||||
| 12 | Pegawai Bomba Tinggi | PBT | Leading fire officer | KB 26 | ||
| 13 | Pegawai Bomba Kanan I | PBK I | Senior fire officer I | KB 24 | ||
| 14 | Pegawai Bomba Kanan II | PBK II | Senior fire officer II | KB 22 | ||
| 15 | Pegawai Bomba | PB | Fire officer | KB 17 / 19 | No insignia | |
Netherlands
 |
Hoofdcommandeur | Fire chief |
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Adjunct-Hoofdcommandeur | Deputy fire chief |
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Commandeur | Division chief |
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Hoofdbrandmeester | Battalion chief |
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Brandmeester | Captain |
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Hoofdbrandwacht | Engineer |
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Brandwacht | Fire fighter |
 |
Algemene / Aspirantfuncties | Trainee |
New Zealand
In New Zealand, rank is shown on epaulettes on firefighters' station uniform, and through colours and stripes on firefighter helmets. As the nation only has a single fire service, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, ranks are consistent through the country.
| Rank [18] | Epaulette [18] | Helmet[19] |
|---|---|---|
| Recruit firefighter (RFF) | Blank with "RECRUIT" | Fluro-green |
| Firefighter (FF) |  |
Yellow, one white stripe |
| Qualified firefighter (QFF) |  |
Yellow, one red stripe |
| Senior firefighter (SFF) |  |
Yellow, two red stripes |
| Station officer (SO) |  |
Red, one blue stripe |
| Senior station officer (SSO) |  |
Red, two blue stripes |
| Deputy chief fire officer (DCFO) |  |
White, one blue stripe and Deputy Chief Fire Officer label |
| Chief fire officer (CFO) |  |
White, two blue stripes and Chief Fire Officer label |
| Assistant Commander (AC) |  |
Silver, Assistant Commander label |
| Commander (CD) |  |
Silver, one blue stripe, Commander label |
| Assistant national commander (ANC) |  |
Silver, two blue stripes, Assistant National Commander label |
| Deputy national commander (DNC) |  |
Black, Deputy National Commander label |
| National commander (NC) |  |
Black, National Commander label |
Nicaragua
 | Rank insignia | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers |  |
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| Comandante Primer Jefe | Comandante | Mayor | Capitán | Teniente | Subteniente | ||
| Troops |  |
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| Sargento 1.º | Sargento | Cabo 1.º | Cabo | ||||
Philippines
Commissioned officers
- Fire director (major general)
- Fire chief superintendent (brigadier general)
- Fire senior superintendent (colonel)
- Fire superintendent (lieutenant colonel)
- Fire chief inspector (major)
- Fire senior inspector (captain)
- Fire inspector (lieutenant)
Non-commissioned officers
- Senior fire officer 4 (executive master sergeant)
- Senior fire officer 3 (chief master sergeant)
- Senior fire officer 2 (senior master sergeant)
- Senior fire officer 1 (master sergeant)
- Fire officer 3 (staff sergeant)
- Fire officer 2 (corporal)
- Fire officer 1 (firefighter)
Peru
Cuerpo General de Bomberos Voluntarios del Perú
| Category | General Officers | Superior Officers | Officers | Sub-Officers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
.png) |
| Rank | Comandante general | General de brigada | Brigadier mayor | Brigadier | Teniente brigadier | Capitán | Teniente | Subteniente | Seccionario |
| Source: | [20] | ||||||||
Poland
State Fire Service
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| Strażak Firefighter Private |
Starszy strażak Senior firefighter Private |
Sekcyjny Section leader Private 1st class |
Starszy sekcyjny Senior section leader Specialist |
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| Młodszy ogniomistrz Junior firemaster Corporal |
Ogniomistrz Firemaster Sergeant |
Starszy ogniomistrz Senior firemaster Staff sergeant | |
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| Młodszy aspirant Junior aspirant Sergeant 1st class |
Aspirant Aspirant Master sergeant |
Starszy aspirant Senior aspirant Sergeant major |
Aspirant sztabowy Staff aspirant Command sergeant major |
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| Młodszy kapitan Junior captain Second lieutenant |
Kapitan Captain First lieutenant |
Starszy kapitan Senior captain Captain |
Młodszy brygadier Junior brigadier Major |
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| Brygadier Brigadier Lieutenant colonel |
Starszy brygadier Senior brigadier Colonel |
Nadbrygadier Chief brigadier Brigadier general |
Generał brygadier General brigadier Major general |
Volunteer Fire Services
- Local level
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Firefighter | Senior Firefighter | Team Commander | Deputy Section Commander | Section Commander | Deputy Platoon Commander | Platoon Commander |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Board Member | Member of the Audit Committee | Deputy Fire Chief | Vice President and Fire Chief | Chairman of the Audit Committee | President |
Fire Brigades 1941
Romania
Officer ranks
 Corpului Pompierilor |
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| Mareșal | General | General-locotenent | General-maior | General de brigadă | Colonel | Locotenent-colonel | Maior | Căpitan | Locotenent | Sublocotenent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other ranks
| Corpului Pompierilor |
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| Plutonier adjutant șef | Plutonier adjutant | Plutonier-major | Plutonier | Sergent-major | Sergent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Russian Federation
Rank insignia Personnel of the Russian State Fire Service use special ranks of internal service (apart from military personnel of the service who use military ranks).[21]
| Senior command personnel | Senior command personnel | Middle command personnel | Officer students | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank [21] | Colonel General of Internal Service |
Lieutenant General of Internal Service |
Major General of Internal Service |
Colonel of Internal Service |
Lieutenant Colonel of Internal Service |
Major of Internal Service |
Captain of Internal Service |
Senior Lieutenant of Internal Service |
Lieutenant of Internal Service |
Junior Lieutenant of Internal Service |
Officer Student | |||
| Rank insignia [21][22] |  |
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| Junior command personnel | Privates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank [21] | Senior Warrant Officer of Internal Service |
Warrant Officer of Internal Service |
Master Sergeant of Internal Service |
Senior Sergeant of Internal Service |
Sergeant of Internal Service |
Junior Sergeant of Internal Service |
Private of Internal Service |
| Rank insignia [21][22] |  |
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Helmet insignia
| Rank | Helmet colour/markings |
|---|---|
| Firefighter | The all color helmet with the applied number, indicating the fire station |
| Head of fire brigade | The all color helmet with the applied number, indicating the fire station, underlined by line 50 mm wide and 5 mm thick |
| Head of duty shift fire station | The all color helmet with the applied a circle, inside which the applied number is indicating the fire station |
| Deputy head of the fire station | The all color helmet with the applied a triangle, inside which the applied number is indicating the fire station |
| Head of the fire station | The all color helmet with the applied a square, inside which the applied number is indicating the fire station |
| Commanding staff of the fire department | The all color helmet with the applied a circle, inside which the applied a rhombus |
Singapore
Officers
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Civil Defence Force[23] | |
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| Commissioner | Deputy commissioner | Senior assistant commissioner | Assistant commissioner | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officers
| Rank group | Warrant officers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Civil Defence Force[23] |  |
 |
||||||||
| Warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1 | |||||||||
Other ranks
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Civil Defence Force[23] |  |
|
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| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sergeant 3 | Sergeant 2 | Sergeant 1 | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private | Recruit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soviet Union
| 1936 | 1937-1939 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | City Fire Department BBV | Paramilitary Fire Service PMB | Category | City Fire Department | Paramilitary Fire Service | ||||||
| 1936 | From 16.06.1936 | From 13.09.1936 | From 17.11.1937 | From 15.04.1938 | From 26.02.1939 | ||||||
| BBV | PMB | Collar | Forearms | Collar patches | Forearms | Collar patches | Upper arm | Collar patch | Collar patch | Collar patch | |
| Private | n/a |  |
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Private |  |
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no changes | |
| К-1 | К-1 | n/a |  |
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|
К-1, К-2 |  |
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no changes |
| К-2 | К-2 | n/a |  |
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| К-3 | n/a | n/a |  |
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| К-4 | К-3 |  |
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К-3 |  |
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no changes |
| К-5 | К-4 | |
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К-4 |  |
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no changes |
| К-6 | К-5 | |
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К-5 |  |
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no changes |
| К-7 | К-6 | |
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К-6 |  |
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no changes |
| К-8 | К-7 | |
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К-7 |  |
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no changes |
| К-9 | К-8 | |
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К-8 |  |
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no changes |
| К-10 | К-9 | |
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К-9 |  |
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no changes |
| К-11 | К-10 | |
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К-10 |  |
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| К-12 | К-11 | |
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К-11 |  |
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| К-13 | К-12 | |
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К-12 | |
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| n/a | К-13 | n/a | n/a | |
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К-13 | n/a | n/a |  |
Switzerland
Officer grades
| Rank epaulettes |  |
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| Rank name | German | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Hauptmann | Oberleutnant | Leutnant |
| French | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Capitaine | Premier lieutenant | Lieutenant | |
| Italian | Colonnello | Tenente colonnello | Maggiore | Capitano | Primo tenente | Tenente | |
| Romansh | Colonel | Litinent colonel | Maior | Chapitani | Primlitenant | Litenet | |
Other grades
| Rank epaulettes |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank name | German | Adjutant Unteroffizier | Feldweibel | Fourier | Wachtmeister | Korporal | Gefreiter | Soldat | Rekrut / Aspirant |
| French | Adjudant sous-officier | Sergent-major | Fourrier | Sergent | Caporal | Appointé | Soldat | Recrue / Aspirant | |
| Italian | Aiutante sottufficiale | Sergente maggiore | Furiere | Sergente | Caporale | Appuntato | Soldato | Recluta / Aspirante | |
| Romansh | Adjutant sutuffizier | Primsergent | Furier | Sergent | Caporal | Appuntà | Schuldà | Recruit | |
Taiwan
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Director general | Deputy director general * Fire chief of metropolitan city |
Level 3 positions | Level 4 positions | Level 5 positions | Level 6 positions | Level 7 positions | Level 8 positions | Team leader | Team member | Basic level |
Tunisia
Tunisian firefighter's ranks are the same as the army, police and national guard.
Turkey
| Head of Department | Divisional Managers | Station Managers | Crew Managers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Daire Başkanı Chief Fire Officer |
Müdür Assistant Chief Fire Officer |
Şube Müdürü Divisional Officer |
Birim Amiri Station Officer |
Amir Sub-Officer |
Çavuş Leading Firefighter | |||||
| Source:[24] | ||||||||||
United Kingdom, Crown dependencies, British Overseas Territories
Contemporary
| Other fire service title | Chief fire officer | Deputy chief fire officer | Assistant chief fire officer | Area manager | Group manager | Station manager | Watch manager | Crew manager | Firefighter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London title | Commissioner | Deputy commissioner | Assistant commissioner | Deputy assistant commissioner | Group commander (borough commander) |
Station commander | Station officer | Sub-officer | Leading firefighter | Firefighter | |
| Scottish title | Chief Officer | Deputy Chief Officer | Assistant Chief Officer | Deputy Assistant Chief Officer | Area Commander | Group Commander | Station Commander | Watch Commander | Crew Commander | Firefighter | |
| Isle of Man title | Chief fire officer | Deputy chief fire officer | Divisional officer | Assistant divisional officer | Station officer | Sub officer | Leading firefighter | Firefighter | |||
| Gibraltar title | Chief fire officer | Deputy chief fire officer | Divisional officer | Station officer | Sub officer | Leading firefighter | Firefighter | ||||
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National Fire Service (1941–1948)
| Rank | Chief Regional Fire Officer | Fire Force Commander | Assistant Fire Force Commander Regional Woman Fire Officer |
Divisional Officer Area Officer |
Column Officer Assistant Area Officer |
Senior Company Officer Group Officer |
Company Officer Assistant Group Officer |
Section Leader Senior Leading Firewoman |
Leading Fireman Leading Firewoman |
Fireman Firewoman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |
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United States
This ranking system is close to universal across all regions. There may be jurisdictions that do not utilize this rank structure, though they are rare.
In the United States, helmet colors often denote a fire fighter's rank or position. Generally, white helmets denote chief officers, (battalion chiefs, division chiefs, etc.), and red helmets denote company officers, (captains, lieutenants). While not universal, there are other commonalities, such as black for non-ranked firefighters, blue for EMS, and green for probationary firefighter.
There are some region specifics for helmet colors, though they have little to do with rank. For example, in San Francisco the SFFD paint their helmets based on a color system that denotes the apparatus they are assigned to.
Officer ranks are most commonly denoted by the number of speaking trumpets – a reference to a megaphone-like device used in the early days of the fire service, although currently and incorrectly called "bugles" – or by striping. Ranks proceed from one (lieutenant) to five (fire chief) trumpets.
The ranks of Deputy and Assistant Chief may differ based on region: one area may have the Assistant Chief as higher rank than Deputy, while another jurisdiction would be the opposite - Deputy out-ranking Assistant.
| Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Firefighter | No rank insignia |
| Engineer/apparatus operator/driver operator | No rank insignia |
| Lieutenant | |
| Captain | .svg) or |
| Battalion Chief/District Chief | or side by side |
| Division Chief/Assistant Chief/Deputy Chief | |
| Deputy Chief or Assistant Chief | |
| Fire Chief | |
Typically, the captain is the ranking officer of a fire station, (which may include anywhere from one apparatus up to several apparatus), and the lieutenant is typically in charge of a single apparatus.
There are also both state (e.g. CalFire in California) and federal (e.g. U.S. Forest Service) rank structures. These align with the typical ranking of the rest of the North American fire service.
Some other U.S. fire departments such as the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) use military rank insignia (specifically sleeve insignia, though it is not an official part of the FDNY uniform code) in addition to the traditional bugles.
Vatican City
| Chief officers | Officers | SNCOs | NCOs | Firefighters | Students | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State |
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| Primo Dirigente coordinatore | Capo squadra esperto | Capo Squadra di prima classe | Capo Squadra di seconda classe | Vigile del fuoco prima classe | Vigile del fuoco seconda classe | Allievo vigile del fuoco | |
Venezuela
The firefighter units of the National Directorate for Civil Protection and Firefighting follow a rank system modeled more on the National Guard and the French Paris Fire Brigade. However, officer ranks follow US influence in the insignia.
| General Officers | Superior Officers | Subaltern Officers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Primer General de Bomberos | General de Bomberos | Coronel de Bomberos | Teniente Coronel de Bomberos | Mayor de Bomberos | Capitán de Bomberos | Premier Teniente de Bomberos | Teniente de Bomberos |
| Rank insignia |  |
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| English | Major general firefighter | Brigadier general firefighter | Colonel firefighter | Lieutenant colonel firefighter | Major firefighter (Battalion chief) |
Captain firefighter | Lieutenant firefighter | Second lieutenant firefighter |
| Sub-Officers | Corporals | Troops | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Sargento Mayor de Bomberos | Sargento Primero de Bomberos | Sargento Segundo de Bomberos | Cabo Primero de Bomberos | Cabo Segundo de Bomberos | Distinguido de Bomberos | Razo de Bomberos |
| Rank insignia |  |
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no insignia |
| English | Sergeant major firefighter | Staff sergeant firefighter | Sergeant firefighter | Corporal firefighter | Lance corporal firefighter | Senior firefighter | Firefighter |