List of comparative firefighting ranks

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Fire departments are structured differently around the world. Many firefighters are sworn members with command structures similar to the military and police. They do not have general police powers but have specific powers of enforcement and control in fire and emergency situations.

Australia

New South Wales

New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Operational rank	Membership type	Insignia
Commissioner	NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer
Deputy commissioner	NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer
Assistant commissioner	NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer
Chief superintendent	NSW Government Public Service Officer
Superintendent	NSW Government Public Service Officer
Inspector	NSW Government Public Service Officer
Group captain	Volunteer
Deputy group captain	Volunteer
Assistant group captain	Volunteer
Captain	Volunteer
Senior deputy captain	Volunteer
Deputy captain	Volunteer
Support fire fighter (no qualifications)	Volunteer

Victoria

Victoria Country Fire Authority

Administrative ranks for volunteer firefighters	Helmet insignia	Epaulette	Hardboard
Group officer			N/A
Deputy group officer			N/A
Operational ranks for volunteer firefighters	Helmet insignia	Epaulette	Hardboard
Captain
1st lieutenant
2nd to 5th lieutenant			N/A
Firefighter		N/A	N/A

Austria

Salzburg

Volunteer fire departments

	Higher ranks				Administrative ranks
Title	Landesbranddirektor (LBD)	Landesbranddirektor-Stv. (LBD-Stv.)	Oberbrandrat (OBR)	Brandrat (BR)	Hauptverwalter (HV)	Oberverwalter (OV)	Verwalter (V)
Rank insignia

	Leading ranks
Title	Abteilungsbrandinspektor (ABI)	Hauptbrandinspektor (HBI)	Oberbrandinspektor (OBI)	Brandinspektor (BI)	Hauptbrandmeister (HBM)	Oberbrandmeister (OBM)	Brandmeister (BM)
Rank insignia

	Sub-officers/crew commanders			Firefighters and leading firefighters
Title	Hauptlöschmeister (HLM)	Oberlöschmeister (OLM)	Löschmeister (LM)	Löschmeister (LM) 18 years as firefighter	Hauptfeuerwehrmann (HFM)	Oberfeuerwehrmann (OFM)	Feuerwehrmann (FM)	Probefeuerwehrmann (PFM)
Rank insignia

Belgium

New rank structure as of 2015:^[1]

	Officers (Higher cadre)				NCOs (Middle cadre)		Enlisted (Basic cadre)
Insignia
French	Colonel	Major	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Adjudant	Sergent	Caporal	Sapeur-pompier
Dutch	Kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein	Luitenant	Adjudant	Sergeant	Korporaal	Brandweerman

Obsolete ranks:

	Officers (Higher cadre)			NCOs (Middle cadre)
Insignia
French	Lieutenant-colonel	Capitaine-commandant	Sous-lieutenant	Adjudant-chef	Sergent-major	Premier Sergent
Dutch	Luitenant-Kolonel	Kapitein-Commandant	Onder-luitenant	Opperadjudant	Sergeant-majoor	Eerste sergeant

Brazil

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Military Firefighters Corps v t e
							Comandante Geral		Comandante segundo		Coronel		Tenente-coronel		Major		Capitão		Primeiro tenente			Segundo tenente

NCO and enlisted grades

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Military Firefighters Corps v t e
	Subtenente										Primeiro-sargento						Segundo-sargento			Terceiro-sargento			Cabo						Bombeiro primeira classe						Bombeiro segunda classe

Canada

Ranks amongst Canadian firefighters vary across the country and ranking appears mostly with larger departments:

Toronto

Rank	Fire chief	Deputy fire chief	Division commander	Platoon chief	District chief	Captain	First class firefighter	Second class firefighter	Probationary firefighter
Insignia							None	None	None

Montreal

Vancouver

	Fire chief	Deputy fire chief	Assistant chief	Battalion chief	Training officer	Captain	Lieutenant	Firefighter	Probationary firefighter
Rank epaulettes								No insignia	No insignia
Rank pins								No insignia	No insignia

Chile

Ranks are divided between company officers and fire department officers, which can be subdivided between active officers (field officers) and administrative officers. The active officers are the captain, and three or four lieutenants, these four active officers are distinguished by red lines on their helmets.

China

	Commissioner	Deputy commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Commanders				Battalion chiefs
	Director general	Deputy director general	Assistant director general	Senior commander	Commander I	Commander II	Commander III	Battalion chief I	Battalion chief II	Battalion chief III	Battalion chief IV

	Senior firefighters			Intermediate firefighters		Junior firefighters
	Captain I	Captain II	Captain III	Firefighter I	Firefighter II	Firefighter III	Firefighter IV	Probationary firefighter

Czech Republic

	Insignia
	Title	Generál- poručík	Generál- major	Brigádní generál	Plukovník	Podplukovník	Major	Kapitán	Nadporučík	Poručík	Podporučík	Nadpraporčík	Praporčík	Podpraporčík	Nadstrážmistr	Strážmistr	Rotný

Denmark

Rank epaulettes[2]
Title	Direktør	Vicedirektør	Afdelingschef	Områdeleder	Beredskabsinspektør	Viceberedskabsinspektør	Beredskabsmester	Viceberedskabsmester	Deltidsholder m. instruktør	Deltidsholder	Beredskabsassistent
Direct translation of Danish ranks	Emergency director/ Emergency chief	Deputy emergency director/ Deputy emergency chief	Department chief/ Area chief	Area manager	Fire inspector	Deputy fire inspector/ Station master	Emergency master/ Fire master	Deputy emergency master/ Deputy fire master	Part-time team leader with instructor skills	Part-time team leader	Fire assistant/ Emergency assistant
Equivalent in London Fire Brigade	Commissioner	Deputy commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Deputy assistant commissioner	Group manager	Station manager	Station officer	Sub-officer	No equivalent	No equivalent	Firefighter

France

The Paris Fire Brigade belongs to the army and uses army ranks with the corps of engineers badge. The commanding officer has the rank of divisional general. The Marseille Naval Fire Battalion belongs to the navy and uses naval ranks. The commanding officer has the rank of rear admiral. Civilian fire services uses the following ranks. The chief fire officer of a departemental fire brigade can be a comptroller general, a colonel senior class or a colonel, depending on the size of the brigade.

	Ministry of Interior			Civilian professional firefighters class A+		Civilian professional firefighters class A			Civilian professional firefighters class B
	Directeur Général de la sécurité civile et de la gestion des crises	Directeur des sapeurs-pompiers (directeur adjoint du DGSCGC)	Contrôleur général (officiers investis de responsabilités particulières envers l'État)	Contrôleur général	Colonel hors-classe Colonel	Lieutenant-Colonel	Commandant	Capitaine	Lieutenant hors classe Lieutenant de 1re classe Lieutenant de 2e classe

	Civilian professional firefighters class C
	Adjudant-Chef	Adjudant	Sergent-Chef	Sergent	Caporal-Chef	Caporal	Sapeur de 1re classe	Sapeur de 2e classe

Germany

In Germany every federal state has its own civil protection laws thus they have different rank systems. Additionally, in the volunteer fire departments, there is a difference between a rank and an official position. This is founded on the military traditions of the fire departments. Every firefighter can hold a high rank without having an official position. A firefighter can be promoted by years of service, training skills and qualifications. Official positions are partly elected or given by capabilities. These conditions allow that older ordinary firefighters have higher ranks than their leaders. But through this ranks are no authorities given (Brevet).

Professional fire fighters (middle technical grades) of Rheinland-Pfalz

Completed vocational training in a technical occupation suitable for the fire service. Basic firefighter training.

Brandmeister/-in während der Laufbahnausbildung	Brandmeister	Oberbrandmeister	Hauptbrandmeister

Professional fire fighters (upper technical grades) of Rheinland-Pfalz

Bachelor of engineering and two years departmental training

Brandinspektorenanwärter	Brandinspektor	Brandoberinspektor	Brandamtmann	Brandamtsrat	Brandoberamtsrat

Professional fire fighters (higher technical grades) of Rheinland-Pfalz

Master of engineering and two years of departmental training

Brandreferendar	Brandrat	Oberbrandrat	Branddirektor	Leitender Branddirektor Ministerialrat	Leitender Ministerialrat	Landesfeuerwehrinspekteur

Helmet insignia of Rheinland-Pfalz

Company leaders	Upper technical grades, battalion chiefs	Higher technical grades, fire chiefs

Greece

Title	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Fire major	Fire captain	Fire lieutenant	Fire second lieutenant
Greek title	Αντιστράτηγος Antistrátigos	Υποστράτηγος Ypostrátigos	Αρχιπύραρχος Archipýrarchos	Πύραρχος Pýrarchos	Αντιπύραρχος Antipýrarchos	Επιπυραγός Epipyragós	Πυραγός Pyragós	Υποπυραγός Ypopyragós	Ανθυποπυραγός Anthypopyragós
Insignia

Title	Warrant officer (NCO)	Master sergeant	Sergeant	Senior firefighter	Firefighter
Greek title	Πυρονόμος Pyronómos	Αρχιπυροσβέστης Παραγωγικής Σχολής Archipyrosvéstis Paragogikís Scholís	Αρχιπυροσβέστης Μη Παραγωγικής Σχολής Archipyrosvéstis Mi Paragogikís Scholís	Υπαρχιπυροσβέστης Yparchipyrosvéstis	Πυροσβέστης Pyrosvéstis
Insignia

Hungary

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
National Directorate General for Disaster Management
											Tűzoltó ezredes		Tűzoltó alezredes		Tűzoltó őrnagy		Tűzoltó százados		Tűzoltó főhadnagy			Tűzoltó hadnagy

NCO and enlisted grades

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
National Directorate General for Disaster Management
	Tűzoltó főtörzszászlós						Tűzoltó törzszászlós	Tűzoltó zászlós	Tűzoltó főtörzsőrmester		Tűzoltó törzsőrmester						Tűzoltó őrmester

India

In the Indian fire services, the ranks and hierarchy may vary slightly across different states and organizations. The specific rank names and their corresponding responsibilities may vary across different states and organizations in India. The following ranks are commonly found in indian fire departments. ^[3]

• Director general, fire and rescue services (head of the department) (
  DGP
  )
• Director/additional director
• Regional fire officer/ divisional officer/joint director
• District fire officer
• Station officer, (in-charge of fire stations)
• Assistant station officer
• Senior fire and rescue officer/senior fireman/leading fireman
• Fire and rescue officer/fireman/ fireman (driver), (this is the entry-level position in the fire service.)

Indonesia

Firefighters in Indonesia form part of the civil service of local governments and wear variant forms of uniforms worn by civil servants and employees.

Iran

In Iran, every city has its own fire department, but ranks are the same in the whole country, and are as follows:

Ireland

In Ireland, the traditional British and Commonwealth brigade rank structure is used, across the 26 counties.

Fire and rescue services are provided by 26 County Councils to the 26 counties of Ireland, and by three city councils with unitary authority status (those of Dublin, Cork, and Galway) within their respective cities. By agreement, the Dublin Fire Brigade provides cover to both the city and the county. Similarly, Galway City Council and Galway County Council have an agreement for the provision of a single fire and rescue service. Only Cork has separate services - Cork City Fire Brigade in the City of Cork, and Cork County Fire Service in the wider County of Cork. In each of the other 23 counties of Ireland a single fire and rescue service covers the whole county, including all large towns and cities, as those 23 county councils are unitary authorities for the entire county jurisdiction.

Structure	County brigades		Dublin Fire Brigade[4]
Rank	Insignia	Helmet	Insignia	Helmet
Firefighter		Yellow		Yellow
Leading firefighter or driver mechanic		Yellow, one 12 mm horizontal black stripe	This rank is not used in Dublin
Sub officer		Yellow, two 12 mm horizontal black stripes		Yellow, two 12 mm horizontal black stripes
Station officer		White, one 19 mm horizontal black stripe		White, one 12 mm horizontal black stripe
District officer (operations) or district FPO	These ranks are not used in counties			White, one 19 mm horizontal black stripe
Third officer (operations) or executive FPO				White, two horizontal black stripes (one 19 mm, one 12 mm)
Senior assistant chief fire officer		White, one 38 mm horizontal broad black stripe	This rank is not used in Dublin
Chief fire officer		White, two 38 mm horizontal broad black stripes		White, one 38 mm horizontal broad black stripe
Key: FPO = fire prevention officer

Israel

Officers

	Rav tafsar (רב טפסר)		Tafsar (טפסר)		Tat tafsar (תת טפסר)		Tafsar mishne (טפסר משנה)		Segan tafsar (סגן טפסר)		Ráv Reshef (רב רשף)		Reshef (רשף)		Lahav (להב)			Lahav mishne (להב משנה)
English	Lieutenant general firefighter		Major general firefighter		Brigadier general firefighter		Colonel firefighter		Lieutenant colonel firefighter		Major firefighter		Captain firefighter		First lieutenant firefighter			Second lieutenant firefighter

Other Ranks

	Rav semel bakhir kabai (רב-סמל בכיר-כבאי)	Rav semel rishon kabai (רב-סמל ראשון-כבאי)	Rav semel kabai (רב-סמל-כבאי)		Semel kabai (סמל כבאי)						Rav kabai (רב כבאי)						Lokhem esh rishon (לוחם אש ראשון)				Lokhem esh (לוחם אש)
English	Sergeant major firefighter	Master sergeant firefighter	Sergeant 1st class firefighter		Sergeant firefighter						Corporal firefighter						Senior firefighter				Firefighter

Italy

Chief fire officers
	Dirigente generale Capo di corpo	Dirigente generale	Dirigente superiore di livello C	Dirigente superiore di livello D	Dirigente superiore di livello E	Dirigente superiore di livello F

Fire officers
	Direttore vice dirigente con funzioni dei vicario dei dirigente di livello E	Direttore vice dirigente	Direttore	Vice direttore

Station commanders
	Sostituto direttore antincendi capo esperto	Sostituto direttore antincendi capo	Sostituto direttore antincendi	Ispettore antincendi coordinatore	Ispettore antincendi esperto	Ispettore antincendi

Crew commanders
	Caporeparto	Caposquadra esperto	Caposquadra

Firefighters
	Vigile del fuoco coordinatore	Vigile del fuoco esperto	Vigile del fuoco

Volunteer firefighters
	Funzionario tecnico antincendi volontario	Caporeparto volontario	Caposquadra volontario	Vigile del fuoco volontario

Japan

The Japanese fire department's rank insignias are place on a small badge and pinned above the right pocket. Rank is told by stripes and hexagram stars. The design of the insignias came from older Japanese style military insignias. Officers and team leaders could wear an

.

Professional fire departments

Fire fighter	Assistant fire sergeant	Fire sergeant
Fire lieutenant	Fire captain	Battalion chief
Assistant chief	First assistant chief	Deputy chief
Fire chief

Volunteer fire departments

Volunteer fire fighter	Volunteer crew chief
Volunteer company chief	Volunteer assistant battalion chief	Volunteer battalion chief
Volunteer assistant chief	Volunteer fire chief

Luxembourg

Higher cadre of professional and volunteer fire fighters[5] Cadre supérieur des pompiers volontaires et professionnels
Insignia
French	Directeur général	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Capitaine	Lieutenant 1ère classe	Lieutenant	Lieutenant-aspirant
English	Director general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant 1st class	Lieutenant	Aspirant lieutenant

Middle cadre of professional and volunteer fire fighters[5] Cadre moyen des pompiers volontaires et professionnels
Insignia
French	Adjudant-major	Adjudant-chef	Adjudant	Adjudant-aspirant
English	Adjutant major	Chief adjutant	Adjutant	Aspirant adjutant

Basic cadre of professional and volunteer fire fighters[5] Cadre de base des pompiers volontaires et professionnels
Insignia
French	Sergent-major	Sergent-chef	Sergent	Caporal-chef 1ère classe	Caporal-chef	Caporal	Brigadier	Brigadier-aspirant
English	Sergeant major	Chief sergeant	Sergeant	Chief corporal 1st class	Chief corporal	Corporal	Brigadier	Aspirant brigadier

Malaysia

Netherlands

	Hoofdcommandeur	Fire chief
	Adjunct-Hoofdcommandeur	Deputy fire chief
	Commandeur	Division chief
	Hoofdbrandmeester	Battalion chief
	Brandmeester	Captain
	Hoofdbrandwacht	Engineer
	Brandwacht	Fire fighter
	Algemene / Aspirantfuncties	Trainee

New Zealand

In New Zealand, rank is shown on epaulettes on firefighters' station uniform, and through colors and stripes on firefighter helmets. As the nation only has a single fire department, the New Zealand Fire Service, ranks are consistent through the country.

Philippines

Commissioned officers

• Fire director (major general)
• Fire chief superintendent (brigadier general)
• Fire senior superintendent (colonel)
• Fire superintendent (lieutenant colonel)
• Fire chief inspector (major)
• Fire senior inspector (captain)
• Fire inspector (lieutenant)

Non-commissioned officers

• Senior fire officer 4 (executive master sergeant)
• Senior fire officer 3 (chief master sergeant)
• Senior fire officer 2 (senior master sergeant)
• Senior fire officer 1 (master sergeant)
• Fire officer 3 (staff sergeant)
• Fire officer 2 (corporal)
• Fire officer 1 (firefighter)

Poland

Strażak Firefighter Private	Starszy strażak Senior firefighter Private	Sekcyjny Section leader Private 1st class	Starszy sekcyjny Senior section leader Specialist
Młodszy ogniomistrz Junior firemaster Corporal	Ogniomistrz Firemaster Sergeant	Starszy ogniomistrz Senior firemaster Staff sergeant
Młodszy aspirant Junior aspirant Sergeant 1st class	Aspirant Aspirant Master sergeant	Starszy aspirant Senior aspirant Sergeant major	Aspirant sztabowy Staff aspirant Command sergeant major
Młodszy kapitan Junior captain Second lieutenant	Kapitan Captain First lieutenant	Starszy kapitan Senior captain Captain	Młodszy brygadier Junior brigadier Major
Brygadier Brigadier Lieutenant colonel	Starszy brygadier Senior brigadier Colonel	Nadbrygadier Chief brigadier Brigadier general	Generał brygadier General brigadier Major general

Romania

Officer ranks

Corpului Pompierilor

Mareșal

General

General-locotenent

General-maior

General de brigadă

Colonel

Locotenent-colonel

Maior

Căpitan

Locotenent

Sublocotenent

Other ranks

Corpului Pompierilor

Plutonier adjutant șef

Plutonier adjutant

Plutonier-major

Plutonier

Sergent-major

Sergent

Russian Federation

In the Russian Federation, the decals are applied symmetrically on both sides of the helmet (front and rear). The location of the decals on the special clothing and SCBA is established for each fire department of the same type within the administrative entity. The following ranks are used by State Fire Service civilian personnel worn on all forms of dress, while military personnel use ranks similar to those of the Police of Russia, due to their pre-2001 history as the fire service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation before all firefighting services were transferred to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Singapore

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Singapore Civil Defence Force[7]
					Commissioner		Deputy commissioner		Senior assistant commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet

Warrant officers

Equivalent NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
Singapore Civil Defence Force[7]
					Warrant officer 2		Warrant officer 1

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Singapore Civil Defence Force[7]
																	Sergeant 3		Sergeant 2		Sergeant 1				Corporal		Lance corporal								Private	Recruit

Switzerland

Officer grades

Rank epaulettes
Rank name	German	Oberst	Oberstleutnant	Major	Hauptmann	Oberleutnant	Leutnant
	French	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Capitaine	Premier lieutenant	Lieutenant
	Italian	Colonnello	Tenente colonnello	Maggiore	Capitano	Primo tenente	Tenente
	Romansh	Colonel	Litinent colonel	Maior	Chapitani	Primlitenant	Litenet

Other grades

Rank epaulettes
Rank name	German	Adjutant Unteroffizier	Feldweibel	Fourier	Wachtmeister	Korporal	Gefreiter	Soldat	Rekrut / Aspirant
	French	Adjudant sous-officier	Sergent-major	Fourrier	Sergent	Caporal	Appointé	Soldat	Recrue / Aspirant
	Italian	Aiutante sottufficiale	Sergente maggiore	Furiere	Sergente	Caporale	Appuntato	Soldato	Recluta / Aspirante
	Romansh	Adjutant sutuffizier	Primsergent	Furier	Sergent	Caporal	Appuntà	Schuldà	Recruit

Taiwan

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
	Director general	Deputy director general * Fire chief of metropolitan city	Level 3 positions	Level 4 positions	Level 5 positions	Level 6 positions	Level 7 positions	Level 8 positions	Team leader	Team member	Basic level

Tunisia

Tunisian firefighter's ranks are the same as the army, police and national guard.

United Kingdom, Crown dependencies, British Overseas Territories

Other fire service title	Chief fire officer	Deputy chief fire officer	Assistant chief fire officer		Area manager	Group manager	Station manager	Watch manager	Crew manager		Firefighter
London title	Commissioner	Deputy commissioner	Assistant commissioner		Deputy assistant commissioner	Group commander (borough commander)	Station commander	Station officer	Sub-officer	Leading firefighter	Firefighter
Scottish title	Chief fire officer	Deputy chief fire officer	Assistant chief fire officer	Deputy assistant chief fire officer	Area manager	Group manager	Station manager	Watch manager	Crew manager		Firefighter
Isle of Man title	Chief fire officer	Deputy chief fire officer				Divisional officer	Assistant divisional officer	Station officer	Sub officer	Leading firefighter	Firefighter
Gibraltar title	Chief fire officer	Deputy chief fire officer				Divisional officer		Station officer	Sub officer	Leading firefighter	Firefighter
Insignia

United States

In the United States, helmet colors often denote a fire fighter's rank or position. In general, white helmets denote chief officers, such as battalion chiefs, division chiefs, etc. while red helmets may denote company officers, such as captains, lieutenants, etc. but the specific meaning of a helmet's color or style varies from region to region and department to department. The rank of an officer in an American fire department is most commonly denoted by a number of

" in today's parlance. Ranks proceed from one (lieutenant) to five (fire chief) bugles. Traditional ranks in American fire departments that exist but may not always be utilized in all cities or towns include:

Rank	Insignia
Firefighter	No bugles
Engineer/technician/apparatus operator	3 chevrons
Lieutenant
Captain	or less usually:
Battalion chief/district chief	or less usually side by side
Division chief or assistant chief/deputy assistant chief/deputy assistant commissioner/assistant deputy commissioner
Deputy firechief/Deputy fire commissioner
Fire chief/Fire commissioner

In many fire departments in the U.S., the captain is commonly the commander of a company and a lieutenant is the supervisor of the company's firefighters on shift. There is no state or federal rank structure for firefighters and each municipality or volunteer fire department creates and uses their own unique structure.

Some other American fire departments such as the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) use military rank insignia in addition to or instead of the traditional bugles. Additionally, officers on truck companies have been known to use rank insignias shaped like axes for lieutenants (one) and captains (two).

Vatican City

	Chief officers	Officers	SNCOs		NCOs	Firefighters	Students
Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State
	Primo Dirigente coordinatore	Capo squadra esperto	Capo Squadra di prima classe	Capo Squadra di seconda classe	Vigile del fuoco prima classe	Vigile del fuoco seconda classe	Allievo vigile del fuoco

References