Uniform Standards

Uniform, General

• BFCP uniform shirts are only issued or sold to valid BFCP members.

• BFCP uniform shirts are to be worn only while on duty for official BFCP related events or business. Shirts may be worn to and from any assignment in accordance with the provisions of this section and any provisions under any other section of this document.

• BFCP uniform shirts are meant to be worn as a uniform and represent the program and are not to be worn when off duty as personal wear. BFCP uniform shirts are not to be worn in establishments whose primary business or activity is the promotion or sale of alcohol unless on official business representing the BFCP. In addition, consumption of alcoholic beverages while wearing the BFCP uniform shirt visibly is strictly prohibited.

• BFCP outerwear, BFCP headwear or any BFCP apparel sold as “off-duty” apparel through the BFCP or authorized vendor is allowed to be worn when off duty with no restrictions. Members should remember that when wearing any apparel with the BFCP logo, they represent the City of Burbank, the Burbank Fire Department and the program. Reasonable care must be taken to portray this image in a positive light.

Standard Uniform

• The Standard Uniform shall consist of light grey Dickies® (or similarly approved), button-up shirt. The uniform shirt shall have the BFCP logo embroidered on the left chest (centered left to right above the pocket if applicable).

• Members may elect to have their last name embroidered on the right chest of the shirt (centered left to right above the pocket if applicable). The name should be embroidered in navy blue, last name only, no first or middle initial, ½” block letters, and all capital letters. This is an option and if chosen, is at the expense of the individual member.

• Members must wear the BFCP Utility Uniform T-shirt under their Standard Uniform shirt.

• The Standard Uniform must be worn with pants consistent to those described below.

NOTE: Volunteers in good standing who regularly attend meetings, events and/or response operations will be issued one button-up uniform shirt and one Utility Uniform T-shirt and may have that shirt replaced as necessary with normal wear to maintain appropriate uniform appearance. Additional shirts may be purchased by the volunteer at their own expense through the authorized uniform dealer using a Uniform Purchase Authorization form.

Utility Uniform

• The Utility Uniform shall consist of the official BFCP uniform T-shirt (gray T-shirt with the BFCP seal on the front left breast and on the back of the shirt). The Utility Uniform may only be worn for response or call-out operations, work details, meetings, hands-on training activity and other similar physical activity assignments. The Utility Uniform is not to be worn in place of the Standard Uniform for public events such as recruitment, outreach or public education events; however the Utility Uniform t-shirt may be worn during set-up and tear down of the event as long as the volunteer puts their Standard Uniform shirt on during the event.

• The Utility Uniform is to be worn with pants consistent to those described in Section below.

Uniform Pants

• Uniform pants worn with any of the uniform shirt classes described in Section 1 are to meet the following standards:

  • Are a shade of dark navy blue.

  • Are solid in color (no stripes, patterns or other designs).

  • Are maintained in appropriate presentable condition (free of holes, tears, patchwork or serious fading).

  • Are full-length pants from the waist to the ankles.

  • Are not corduroy, denim or “jeans” style pants or similar material pants.

• There are various styles of pants such as plain front uniform pants, work pants, tactical pants and cargo pants.

• Black pants may be worn in lieu of navy blue pants as long as they conform to the remaining standards set in this section. Although black pants may be worn, the official uniform color of dark navy blue is preferred and volunteers should switch to the dark navy as soon as possible.

Outerwear

• The new standard official BFCP uniform outerwear garments shall be the black Dickies® work jacket and will have the BFCP logo embroidered on the left chest of the garment.

• Members may elect to have their last name embroidered on the outerwear. This optional embroidery should be on the right chest in white lettering. The name should be last name only in ½ inch block style and all capital letters.

• Those members with a legacy outerwear garment such as the black nylon shell jacket or the navy blue firefighter workshirt with the BFCP logo embroidered on the garment may continue to wear.

• In lieu of the above outerwear, members may present their own personal all black jacket to the BFCP Steering Committee, if authorized this jacket can be taken to the authorized uniform vendor and can be embroidered with the BFCP logo on the left chest and worn as a uniform jacket. In addition, a member may wear any plain black jacket while in uniform as long as it does not have any designs or logos embroidered or printed on the jacket.

• In inclement weather, a rain jacket or poncho may be worn. Any appropriate style rain jacket or poncho is acceptable as long as it does not have obscene or offensive logos or images and does not advertise a commercial product or brand.

NOTE: Members who have previously purchased a “firefighter work shirt” style pullover in navy blue with the BFCP logo may continue to wear that on duty; otherwise all outwear is to be black.

Headwear

• Headwear will consist of a classic style, navy blue baseball cap. The cap will have a modified BFCP logo that has been approved by the Steering Committee.

In lieu of the above headwear, a member may wear any plain dark blue baseball cap style hat or “boonie” style bucket hat while in uniform as long as it does not have any designs or logos.

BFCP Uniform Patch & Rockers

• The BFCP Uniform patch shall be worn on the left sleeve of the button uniform shirt. Placement of the patch is to be centered on what would be the crease line of the sleeve and placed so the top of the patch is 1/2" inch below the sewn shoulder seem. BFCP Uniform patches are only issued to members who have met the minimum standards for "Senior Volunteer" level. Volunteers who reach "Senior Volunteer" will be issued one uniform patch, if the volunteer has more than one uniform shirt, the volunteer may request additional patches through the Administration Coordinator.

• The level of Specialist Volunteer will be indicated by a blue rectangular “rocker” style patch with white letters indicating the specialty of the volunteer (e.g. CERT, Rehab/Canteen, Communications, Support Services) (in the event a Specialist is a CERT Instructor, they will wear a CERT Instructor patch instead of, NOT in addition to, the CERT patch). The rocker patch is to sewn on the left sleeve of the uniform shirt directly below the BFCP patch so that the rocker and the uniform patch touch. The rocker patch is to be centered on what would be the crease line of the sleeve.

• In the event the volunteer is a Specialist in more than one specialty, the volunteer is authorized to wear more than one rocker patch. If more than one rocker patch is worn, the patches will be worn in the following order, descending from top down with each rocker patch directly next to the previous patch with no space in between (if a particular specialty is not achieved, skip that specialty rocker patch and place the next rocker patch directly against the previous in accordance with this section).

  • Rehab/Canteen

  • Support Services

  • Communications

  • CERT (note: If the volunteer is an Instructor, the CERT Instructor patch is to be worn instead of the CERT patch, not in addition to)

Other Pins, Devices and Other Attachments

• Those members who have been issued a pin commemorating the number of years of service may wear the issued pin on the right chest of the uniform shirt centered just above the member’s last name (if the member has not elected to have their last name on their shirt, the pin is to be worn on the right chest in a position consistent as if the name were there). If a member has been awarded multiple years of service pins as more years of service have been completed, only the pin indicating the highest number of years is to be worn.

• Those members who have completed an accredited American Red Cross or American Heart Association First Aid or CPR class may wear a pin indicating First Aid or CPR on the right chest of the polo or button down uniform shirt centered just above the member’s last name (if the member has not elected to have their last name on their shirt, the pin is to be worn on the right chest in a position consistent as if the name were there). If a member is wearing a First Aid or CPR pin and has also elected to wear an issued years of service pin, the years of service pin is to be worn above the First Aid or CPR pin. First Aid and/or CPR pins may only be worn while the volunteer is currently trained, certified and/or licensed and has indicated so with submitting proof through the BFCP website in accordance with documenting training and certification

• Those members, who have completed an Emergency Medical Technician class and have become certified/licensed by the County of Los Angeles/State of California, may wear a pin indicating EMT/Emergency Medical Technician on the right chest of the polo or button down uniform shirt centered just above the member’s last name (if the member has not elected to have their last name on their shirt, the pin is to be worn on the right chest in a position consistent as if the name were there). If a member is wearing an EMT pin and has also elected to wear an issued years of service pin, the years of service pin is to be worn above the EMT pin. EMT pins may only be worn while the volunteer is currently trained, certified and/or licensed and has indicated so with submitting proof through the BFCP website in accordance with documenting training and certification. Volunteers wearing an EMT pin will NOT wear a First Aid or CPR pin.

• During the month of October, a pin indicating support for “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” may be worn as an option at the discretion of the Coordinator of Volunteer Operations. The pin may be no larger than 1” in diameter and may not be worn before October 1^st and may not be worn after October 31^st.

• No other pins may be worn without the approval of the Coordinator of Volunteer Operations.

Uniform Alterations

• BFCP uniform items (e.g. uniform t-shirt or button down uniform shirt and uniform pants) may be altered in an appropriate manner such as hemming of pant leg or shirt sleeve length or the taking in or letting out of the width of a garment. Alterations must be done in such a manner as to keep the integrity of the intended design of the apparel item and look clean and professional.

• Sleeves or pant legs are not to be simply cut to alter length; the sleeve or pant end must be finished and hemmed consistent with the original finished look of the garment. Sleeve and leg lengths must remain appropriate for a short sleeve/long sleeve shirt or that of long pants.

• Shirt bottoms are not to be simply cut to shorten the length of a shirt; they must be finished and hemmed. Any alteration to the length of a shirt must ensure that shirt is still appropriate in length and with a finished hem.

• BFCP uniform shirts are not to be modified other than those alterations approved by this section. T-shirt collars are not to be cut to make “v-neck” or other style collars.

• The Coordinator of Volunteer Operations, Deputy Coordinator of Volunteer Operations or Emergency Management Coordinator reserves the right to disallow a member from wearing any uniform item for official BFCP events if it is deemed the alteration is inappropriate or takes away from the original intent and design of the apparel item.

Production of BFCP Apparel Items

• The production of any apparel items with the BFCP seal, subordinate program seal, “BFCP”, “Burbank Fire Corps Program” or any derivative the Burbank Fire Corps Program brand or name, whether for on-duty or off-duty purposes, must be approved by the BFCP Steering Committee.