How to wear Class D per Procedure 1502-4 (revised May 2023).
When to wear Class D
The CAL FIRE tactical uniform is worn by employees working in the field where the dress, administrative, or work uniform is not appropriate or practical.
For employees assigned to immediate response (engines, crews, overhead, battalion coverage), footwear is governed by the 1700 Safety Handbook Section 1727, not the 1500 Uniform Handbook.
Authorization gates
- Region Chief / Deputy Director / State Fire Marshal designates which color Cap-Baseball Style (red or dark navy blue) members of Incident Command Teams are authorized to wear on team assignments. This is the IMT cap-color rule.
- Unit Chief or Program Chief authorizes the Polo Shirt (with Approval Required status).
- Supervisors, Managers, and Company Officers — discretion to direct when the T-Shirt may be worn in lieu of the uniform shirt; discretion to excuse the daily authorized uniform during PT or soft time.
Uniform T-Shirt vs. Dark Navy-Blue T-Shirt
Same distinction as Class C:
- Uniform T-Shirt may be worn without the uniform shirt while performing arduous work activities.
- May also be worn during routine station activities with no minimal expectation of public interaction.
- Dark Navy-Blue T-Shirt shall not be worn in lieu of the Uniform T-Shirt while interacting with the public.
- T-Shirt maintenance is the employee's responsibility.
Cold weather / layering
- Approved optional cold-weather garments are approved for use with the work response uniform.
- A Job Shirt may be worn in lieu of the uniform shirt during cold-weather work activities.
- The fleece jacket is approved as outerwear or layering, including under approved PPE — not approved as a stand-alone PPE garment.
Pin rule
Uniform insignia pins shall be worn only one at a time on Class D — same as Class C.
Footwear and safety clothing
- Footwear: refer to 1700 Safety Handbook Section 1727 for emergency response assignments.
- Safety Clothing: used as necessary, dictated by the type of emergency response, by all response employees.
IMT and ECC nameplate (when activated)
The red aluminum IMT/ECC nameplate is required when: - A member of an Incident Management Team is activated on an official incident, OR - An Emergency Command Center Support Team member is on duty - Worn only with Class C Work Response or Class D Tactical uniforms.
Spec: red aluminum metal 3″ × 1½″, polished finish, white lettering, Arial Font (all CAPS), engraved. - Line 1: full first name and last name - Line 2: team number - Line 3: team position
This replaces the standard metal nameplate while the IMT/ECC is activated.
Insignia — what's required vs optional on Class D
| Item | Class D status |
|---|---|
| Uniform patches (both sleeves) | Required |
| Service Stars | — |
| Collar Brass | Required |
| Department-issued badge | Required |
| Department-issued nameplate | Required |
| IMT/ECC Nameplate (red aluminum) | Required when activated as IMT or ECC support |
| Rank Insignia Badge | Optional |
| Flag Pin · EMS · Union · Honor Guard · Local Cooperative · Aviator Wings · FTO · Hazmat · IMT · Unit/Program | Optional (one pin at a time) |
Patch placement
- Both sleeves
- Centered ½″ below the shoulder seam on uniform shirts
- Centered 1″ below the shoulder seam on coats/jackets
Source
Procedure 1502-4 — Class D "Tactical" Uniform and Insignia Display Procedures, revised May 2023. Companion: Class D Tactical Purchasing Guide (revised May 2023). Insignia: Uniform Insignia Display Exhibit (revised July 2023). Footwear: 1700 Safety Handbook Section 1727.
