Note for Guidance

The Fire Safety Advice Centre

Fire Service Badge

Most Fire and Rescue Service badges consists of  the an eight pointed star. Each point (or to use the correct term "Tenent") has a meaning and comes from the Knights of St John in Jerusalem at the time of the crusades. The tenent's were said to represent, Tact, Perseverance, Gallantry, Loyalty, Dexterity, Explicitness, Observation and Sympathy.

In most cases surmounted on the eight pointed star is the arms of the appropriate authority that is responsible for the FRS. It was thought because the arms can separated from the eight pointed star the reason was in the event of a world conflict (cold war times) the National Fire Service would have been reformed and the local arms would have been changed for the NFS insignia.

Take for instance when the Merseyside Fire Brigade when it was formed in 1974 it eventually took the Merseyside County Council's arms.The Arms are, Azure on a Bend wavy Argent between six mural Crowns three and three conjoined in Pile Or two Bendlets wavy azure.

It could be described as a blue shield with diagonal wavy silver lines separated by two blue wavy lines between six gold crowns forming in two groups

The shield symbolises defence, in this case against fire. The azure (blue) symbolizes water and our maritime heritage, with three argent (silver white) wavy lines running diagonally indicating the three rivers in Merseyside. The crowns symbolise the six boroughs that formed the Merseyside Metropolitan County Borough. The crowns are are positioned in two circles to represent two cogs, this symbolizes the industrial aspect of the county.

The arms are encircled with a firefighter belt inscribed Merseyside Fire Brigade and further encircled with a laurel wreath. The fire fighters belt is ideal to carry the Merseyside Fire Brigade's name and the laurel wreath is to show victory against fire. Maybe the real reason was it looks good.

Argent - silver
Azure - blue - usually dark
Or - gold

This handout provides a general overview and basic information on this topic. It may not apply to everyone, consequently to find out if this guide applies to you and to get more information on this subject, study all the relevant legislation, guides and British/European Standards. Also you should seek advice from an expert on the subject or your local Fire Safety Officer or Fire Safety Professional.

Merseyside Fire Liaison Panel. Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses.

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This page was last checked and modified on Sunday, 23 March, 2008 12:47