What you actually need to buy, by item, with the approved manufacturers and SKUs from the CAL FIRE Class A Dress Uniform Purchasing Guide (revised August 2023).
T-Shirt — White
- Short or long sleeve
- Crew neck
- No markings or logos
- Worn only with the white shirt
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
Shirt — White
- Long sleeve
- Polyester / cotton poplin
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
| Manufacturer | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Cross | 35W5400 |
126R5400 |
Trousers
- Black
- Gabardine or tropical weave
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
| Manufacturer | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Cross | 28P8696 |
4800S |
| Lighthouse Uniform Co. | Signature Line | Signature Line |
Coat
- Black
- Gabardine or tropical weave (55% polyester / 45% wool)
- Double-breasted: six CA "Eureka" buttons (Male or Female)
- Single-breasted: four CA "Eureka" buttons (Female only)
- Sleeve braid: ½″ sewn on top side of each sleeve, between seams; bottom of braid 3″ above the cuff
- Gold-finish buttons and braid for Chief Officer
- Silver-finish buttons and braid for Non-Chief Officer
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
| Manufacturer | Double-Breasted | Single-Breasted |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Cross | 17B8696C |
4800 SDC |
| Lighthouse Uniform Co. | Signature Line | Single-breasted unavailable |
Sleeve Braid (Vellum style)
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
| Manufacturer | Chief Officer | Non-Chief Officer |
|---|---|---|
| A.H. Rice | 0N3L6-7100 Gold #96 |
0N3L6-7100 Silver #493 |
Belt
- Black leather, 1½″ wide
- Basket weave
- Square-style buckle with center bar
- Gold-finish buckle (Chief Officer)
- Silver-finish buckle (Non-Chief Officer)
- Example: Chambers
6050 - Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
Necktie
- Black, plain
- Tropical weave or similar to closely match coat fabric
- 75% polyester / 25% wool recommended
- Sam Broome style
455(3″) - Windsor or 4-in-hand knot — pre-tied or snap-on permitted
- Regular or extra length
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
A female cross-over snap-tie is permitted as the female necktie option (Optional Items Purchasing Guide): Sam Broome TV (FG 101).
Socks
- Black
- Fine weave
- Plain (no patterns or figures)
- Natural-colored nylons (Female option)
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
Caps — by rank tier
The Class A Dress cap is the only approved head-wear for Class A. All caps are Hankin Brothers in semi-pershing and adjust-to-size styles. Worn outdoors only (never indoors except honor guard or directed ceremony). Worn with the cap badge — see the Rank Insignia Badge article.
Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
Commanding Officer (Staff Chief, Unit Chief, OSFM Division Chief, and above)
- Black frame
- Black 2″ visor with gold bullion oak cluster leaf
- White cover (100% Naugahyde)
- Gold-finished lace cap strap affixed with gold-finish CA "Eureka" buttons
Chief Officer (Battalion Chief · Asst Chief · Deputy Chief · DSFM III Specialist · Arson and Bomb Investigator)
- Black frame
- Black 2″ visor (no oak cluster)
- White cover (100% Naugahyde)
- Gold-finish expansion strap affixed with gold-finish CA "Eureka" buttons
Non-Chief Officer (Fire Captain, DSFM Range B and below)
- Black frame
- Black 2″ visor
- Black cover (100% Naugahyde)
- Nickel-finish expansion strap affixed with nickel-finish CA "Eureka" buttons
Footwear
- Black Dress Uniform Shoe
- One-piece toe
- High-gloss finish
- Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
A female shoe option is permitted (Optional Items Purchasing Guide): plain leather, smooth finish, closed heel and toe, variable heel height ¾″ to 2″.
Female-only optional skirt
- Black
- 55% polyester / 45% wool
- Gabardine or tropical weave
- Hemmed at mid-knee
- Flying Cross
#4800SK - Manufacturer Example: Lighthouse Uniforms
What you'll also need (covered in separate articles)
- Department-issued nameplate (Policy 1505) — required.
- Department-issued badge — required, centered 2″ above the left pocket.
- Collar Brass — required for Class A. Blackinton & Co. is the only authorized model.
- Service Stars — required for Class A. One per 5 years of service.
- Rank Insignia Badge for the Class A cap — Blackinton, paired to your rank.
- Uniform patches — both sleeves, centered 1″ below the shoulder seam on the coat.
Sourcing
All Risk Uniforms stocks the complete Class A "Dress" uniform: white shirts, trousers, double-breasted and single-breasted coats, sleeve braid, belts, neckties (including the female cross-over option), Hankin Brothers caps for all three rank tiers, Class A footwear (including the female option), and the female Flying Cross skirt. Companion items — collar brass, service stars, rank insignia badge, badge, nameplate, sleeve patches — are also in stock.
Source
Class A "Dress" Uniform Purchasing Guide exhibit, revised August 2023. Display rules: Procedure 1502-1, revised May 2023.
