For the non FDNY & Non-New York members in FDNY the EMS members have yellow helmets and Firefighters have Black Helmets. For firefighters the front pieces show what unit number the member is assigned to, the color of the front pieces shows what kind of unit. Black with White Numbers Engine Companies, Red with white numbers Ladder Company = Truck Co. Blue with white Numbers Rescue Co. Yellow with white numbers Squad Co. & Green with White Number Marine Units = Fireboats. For company officers, Captain & Lieutenants the reverse color scheme.
For instance, I was the captain of F.D.N.Y. Engine Co. 26 I had a WHITE front piece with a BLACK 26. My firefighters had a BLACK Front Peace with WHITE 26. F.D.N.Y. Chiefs have WHITE HELMETS with a GOLD Front Piece with lettering for their Rank. in Order Battalion Chief, Deputy = Division Chief, Deputy Assistant Chief of Department (Normally a Deputy Borough Commander or Deputy Chief of a Bureau., Assistant Chief. A Borough Commander or Chief in Charge of a Bureau. The 2 Highest Ranks in the FDNY "Chief of Operations" and #1 "Chief of Department."
The Fire Commissioner and his Assistant and Deputy Fire Commissioners also have White Helmets as do EMS Chiefs, but the EMS Chiefs have a very different helmet design. Photo below shows me in 1991 at one of my first major fire, a 4th Alarm in Manhattans Chelsea Neighborhood on Manhattan West Side.
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