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Organization of the Fire Service and Rank Insignia
submitted by Jeremy Jones Some terminology and the rank structure in the fire service is generally accepted as something that came from the Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, U. S. fire departments were often run something like a business. Many early fire brigades were private organizations who were paid by insurance companies. There were chiefs, bosses, leaders and foremen and such. During the Civil War entire fire departments joined up as a unit. They became units like Infantry Companies etc. The leaders were given rank and that rank or title survived the war. After the war some men were known as Captain for the rest of their lives and when they were replaced, the department got a new Captain for that company. There were also other influences on the rank structure of fire departments. Credit for the first "professional" fire brigade is given to Napoleon Bonaparte. As French emperor, he ordered that a division of the French army known as Sapeurs-Pompiers be used to protect Paris with 30 powerful manual fire pumps by 1800. We can presume that this organization had ranks. In fact many military words, such as those for rank, come directly from Old French. (i.e. "Lieutenant" & "Captain") The very first, recorded, full time, fire brigade was in first or second century Rome. This consisted of approximately 7000 "Vigiles".
In the early days, of North American fire departments, orders were given to the troops, by officers, through the use of a large brass device that resembles a megaphone. These were very ornate brass horns. They were commonly called Bugles or speaking trumpets.
The person with the bugle hanging from his neck or shoulder was easily identified as the person in charge. Officers became identified with this objects so a small pin in the shape of a bugle became a type of rank insignia for officers. The more bugles on his collar the higher the rank. An expression still used today. Firefighter - (FF) -Basic worker. Usually 1 -3 in most companies. (Note: "Firefighter" is the generic term for all members of a fire department but it is also a rank within the organization.) Insignia: None Engineer - In most departments this is the person who drives the vehicle and operates the pump or aerial. He is a specialist who knows everything about that piece of apparatus. Lieutenant - (Lt.) - This is the officer over a single company. Depending upon the city he may be on an engine, truck, rescue company or whatever. There might be more than one assigned to a station. Insignia: One Bugle Captain - (Capt.) - This officer commands a single company but also is the ranking officer at a station that may have several companies. He may have one or more lieutenants working at the station with him. This officer is often the initial command at emergencies and can be called upon to fill in for the Chief during his or her absence. A captain may also be over a special section or function. Examples are: Dispatch, Training, EMS etc. Insignia: Two Bugles Assistant Chief (AC) - Operational supervisor over companies. Often the highest ranking officer on duty on a 24 hours basis. Insignia: Four Bugles Chief - The boss. Insignia: Five Bugles
Found Article on: http://www.hotfools.com/dotnetnuke/Home/History/tabid/63/Default.aspx 
Picture Found: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fire_Department_Rank_Insignia.gif
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