If you’ve ever seen a firefighters badge you may have noticed what looks like bugles, but what is the history and meaning behind fire department bugles?
Every fire crew member has a defined place within theservice as part of a strong hierarchy. Each rank has its own badge withdifferent symbols. If you are new to the firefighting profession, or about toapply, you may be interested to know what the different badges mean.
What are those items in the image and why are they called bugles? How many can you wear and where did the image come from?
In this article, I will provide a quick guide on the subjectto help clear up some of the confusion over the symbol. Yes, technically, theyare trumpets rather than bugles and, yes, we will debate the correct term for along time to come.
I want to look at the significance of the item, rather thanthe name, with its role in communications and as a status symbol in theservice. From there, I will discuss some of the ways that you’ll be wearing bugleson your uniform.
Table of Contents
What is a “bugle”anyway?
First of all, I need to point out that some people do have aproblem with the use of the term bugle to describe the instruments used – boththose used on-scene and those depicted in the insignia of a firefighter.
If we want to be technical about it, firefighters haven’tever used bugles in the traditional sense.
Bugles as musical instruments were, and in some cases stillare, used in military settings. The items used in the old days of firefightingwere actually speaking trumpets.
But, that doesn’t have quite the same impact and grandeur,does it? They are traditionally known as bugles and I will use both terms as isappropriate in this guide.
The history andmeaning behind fire department bugles
Communication is essential between firefighters during amajor incident. Not only does everyone on scene need their initialinstructions, but they all also need to be able to talk to each other duringemergencies.
There are a lot of things that could go wrong during anoperation in the blink of an eye and everyone needs to adapt in a safe,cohesive manner.
Radios are a good starting point for instructions fromsuperiors to those in the fire or in the trucks. Hand signals are alsoessential in the fire when it is too noisy.
It is hard to imagine a time without radio communication.Our radio allows us to warn others about dangers in a building, talk strategyand signal in distress.
Two-way radios are a part of every fire truck to gaininstructions enroute to an incident and to make sure that all units are on thesame page.
In recent decades, this technology has progressed considerably with digital models with less interference. But these devices are a fairly modern idea. Two-way radios only made their way into all stations across the country in the 1950s.
Before that, there was a reliance on telegraph systemsinstead. Large fireboxes with cables and keys would send out coded messages tostations to alert them about fires and call for assistance.
Stations would train operators to give and receive themessages, but there was no way to communicate with trucks.
This also left no way of communicating between firefighterson the scene of a fire. However, early crews from the 1800s had the right idea.
Previously, those in command had no choice but to shoutinstructions to firefighters before and during the operation.
The best way to do so was through a speaking trumpet. Thinkof it a little like an old-fashioned megaphone with no way to amplify the soundof the voice but the shape of the conical structure.
They worked well enough for attracting people to circusevents and attractions, so they would be enough to relay instructions to thecrew.
It might sound comical to us now to image this occurring ata major fire. However, you have to remember that there wasn’t much elseavailable back in the 1800s.
So, what does thishave to do with the bugles on firefighter badges?
It is all about the chain of command. Don’t think about the bugle so much as a communication device these days but as a symbol of superiority and ranks within the fire department. (Click the link for our guide to the ranks and structure of fire departments)
It isn’t about the instrument that was used to amplify thoseinstructions but the rank of the man doing so. The trumpet used during thesecalls would always stay in possession of the officer in charge.
It was his responsibility and typically hung from his neckalone.
In many ways, it was a symbol of his superior rank. Asstatus symbols go, it does help to have something big and loud that you canshow off.
Today, there is a similar chain of command. Everyfirefighter follows the orders of their lieutenant and makes sure to follow allinstructions as they develop at the scene.
That said, there are also stories about fire departmentspeaking trumpets being corked up for used as drinking vessel or used as amakeshift weapon in times of conflict.
But then, this was the 19th century so they probably weren’tas strict on drinking on the job or about their conduct.
Some of these tales may be exaggerated for effect. But, youhave to imagine that a large blunt instrument like a speaking trumpet could beuseful when dealing with potentially violent members of the public – orpotential violent firefighters from competing stations in some cases.
Ceremonial presentation trumpets also emerged.
The significance of the trumpet evolved with time and therewere two different types created. There was the plain trumpet that was used forday-to-day work with the service.
There was no point in embellishing this trumpet too much ifit was little more than a functional tool and there was the potential fordamage.
Then there was a more ornate version referred to as apresentation trumpet with much more intricate detail and designs. These wereawarded to personnel like medals of honor to commemorate the duties of that officer.
Sometime companies would also use them as prizes incompetitions with other departments. You may see some of these items in casesin your fire department if they are great historical or sentimentalsignificance.
The development of the iconic bugle for firefighters
In time, that symbol of superiority would go to be used onthe badges of firefighters to signify their rank within the department.
The strict hierarchy of the fire service, with all its different ranks, means that firefighters on each level can showcase their position with their own badge or insignia on their uniform.
When you get promoted through the ranks, it is an honor to earn a new badge that depicts this achieve and to wear it with pride.
Firefighter:
If you think that you are going to get to wear a bugle onyour uniform once you become a fully qualified firefighter, then you’re out ofluck.
Some probationary firefighters may hope that they will getto have one as a symbol of their graduation into full service. But, this isn’tthe case.
You see, firefighters don’t historically have any need for abugle. They were the tools of commanding officers only. So, it makes sense thatyou would need to be promoted further to earn that badge.
Lieutenant:
You don’t actually get to wear a bugle on your uniform untilyou reach the role of lieutenant.
As you rise through the ranks as a firefighter, you gainmore trumpets on your badge. In some ways, this single bugle on the uniform ofthe lieutenant is perhaps the most significant as it best reflects the originalspeaking trumpet.
The lieutenant has much the same role, guiding his crew andgiving instructions on how to deal with the situation at hand. A real speakingtrumpet would be highly impractical these days, so it is nice to have onestitched into the fabric as a reminder of this duty.
Captain:
A captain has two bugles side by side like gold bars.
This shows a simple progression in the system where you getan extra image on your badge to signal your promotion. At this point, it allmakes a lot of sense. But, from there, it can get a bit confusing.
Battalion Chief:
Some battalion chiefs will have three bugles, this timecrossed over in a star-like shape. Others will have two crossed bugles instead.
The design depends on the hierarchy in the department and the number of other officers between them and the fire chief. If there are still other assistant chiefs and other, higher roles than the two crossed bugles will be used.
This means that you don’t have the same number of bugles asyour superior. But, the crossed design shows that you have progressed aboveCaptain.
If there is no-one between the chief and the battalion chief,then the battalion chief could have up to four crossed bugles.
This will all make sense within a department but can lookodd when you see battalion chiefs from different departments side-by-side.
Fire Chief:
The fire chief is the last one in the ranks and thereforehas the most bugles on their uniform.
The chief will have five bugles, and this is the absolutemaximum, which is probably just as well as five crossed bugles look more like astar than a series of bugles.
On that note, some personnel may not wear fire department bugles at all, they may get stars instead.
Not all firefighters wear bugles
The use of stars means is that you may not get to wear abugle until much later. Or, chiefs may decide that lower ranks get bugles andhigher ranks get stars.
Also, in some department’s stars are used to depict years ofservice. Where I work, the stars are stitchedonto the sleeve of your class A uniform and each star indicates 5 years ofservice.
There has also been another interesting debate in recenttimes about the direction of bugles on the badge.
It seems that some captains have handed out badges with thebugles horizontal and many firefighters cannot understand why that would be thecase. They should point straight down.
In most cases, these badges are sewn into the uniforms offirefighters. It is safer and more cost-effective to have these fabric badgesand it also allows departments to spell out the rank of the firefighter inclear letters.
This is better for those on-scene that might not be familiarwith the crew and need to locate the right people in a hurry.
There are some cases where firefighters will get to wear abadge that is a more formal pin. This is where we see those decorative shapeswith the bugles molded into brass. They look much nicer and are most often usedon dress uniforms.
Finally, the significance of the fire department bugle for you as a firefighter or hopeful will depend on your aspirations within the fire service and the approach of the department you work for.
You may be in a department that is proud of the tradition ofthe bugle, still uses that name and awards them on promotion right through theranks. They may even have the real thing on display somewhere.
Or, you may be part of a department that discarded the termbugle long ago and focuses more on stars on their badges. If it is the latter,you could soon find yourself in line for a promotion where you get to proudlywear one of these bugles/speaking trumpets on your uniform.
Whatever the current viewpoints of your department regardingbugle and your potential for wearing them, you have to admit that the historyof the bugle in the fire service is interesting.
Not only do we have an antique tool that led to theevolution of communication devices, but that simple trumpet also became aniconic symbol for the fire service.
The captains of the 19th century probably would never have guessed that in the 21st century we would be casting fire department bugles in bronze and arguing over their name.
Other resources you may be interested in:
Firefighter Shift Schedules and Working Hours Explained
History of the Maltese Cross
The Fireman’s Prayer: A Simple Guide
Can Firefighting Really Cause Cancer?
Sources:
https://www.nycfiremuseum.org/history_colonial.cfm
https://www.fasnyfiremuseum.com/content/Collections/fire_equipment_.asp
