jrcarlyle asked 7 years ago
There are a lot of symbols used on the Maltese Crosses I see. Some of them seem obvious but some of them don’t look like anything I recognize… what do they mean?
James Carlyle Staff answered 7 years ago
Axe
The firefighters axe is primarily used to open doors and windows to gain access to a building during a fire. The traditional firefighters axe has a pick shaped poll (side of the head opposite the blade).
Bucket
Before the advent of water pumps and hoses the bucket (usually leather) and “bucket brigade” were the only way to direct water onto a fire.
Bugle
The speaking horn or bugle was used by officers to communicate to firefighters engaged with a fire. In the US it has become the symbol of leadership within a firefighting organization. In the current use of the bugle to denote rank:
Firefighters, engineers, technicians and Sergeants have no bugles
One bugle stands for a Lieutenant
Two crossed bugles for a Captain
Three crossed bugles for a Deputy or Assistant Chief
Four crossed bugles for a Chief or Deputy Chief
Five crossed bugles for a Chief
(Traditional usage had the Captain with two side-by-side bugles and two crossed bugles stood for a Battalion or District Chief.)
Fire Pot
The (sometimes) flaming globe on a stick depicts the long pole with a fire-pot on the end which was used by firefighters in New Holland (later New York) who had the duty of lighting streetlamps in addition to their duties as firefighters and night watchmen.
Halligan
A forcible entry tool used by firefighters to gain access to the insides of locked buildings. It is a specialized form of pry-bar.
Helmet
The helmet is based on a protective leather helmet “leather head” originating in 18th century America. It was designed specifically for use by firefighters, unlike earlier helmets which were almost universally based on military ones. The leather was used because it is non-conductive and a better insulator from heat than the metal of previous designs. The front piece is held onto the helmet using an eagle in the US and a beaver in Canada. The eagle dates to about 1825 when an unknown sculptor designed it for a firefighter’s memorial and has been in use ever since. The beaver used in Canada represents the hard work, focused mission and undying dedication that firefighters are known for. The leather helmet has been an internationally recognized symbol of firefighters since the early days of American firefighting. Traditionally, black is the color of a firefighter’s helmet, Red is the color of a Captains helmet and white is the color of a Chiefs helmet.
Ladder
The ladder is used by firefighters to access upper levels of a building to fight fire and perform rescue operations.
Nozzle
The nozzle is a conical metal fitting used to direct water from a pressurized source, usually a hose or a swiveling metal tube. Being able to direct a stream of water represented a huge advance in firefighting from the original bucket brigade.
Plug
The familiar fire hydrant dates to the log mains which transported water through early American cities and the “plugs” which were removed by firefighters in order to gain access to the water.
Pulaski
An axe used by forest firefighters, it has a mattock blade on the poll for use in digging fire breaks. Firefighting axes are usually painted bright colors.