The full collar brass spec, by rank and by Blackinton SKU, per the Collar Brass Exhibit (revised August 2023).
The basics
- All uniformed employees in the listed classes wear the type of collar brass indicated for their rank.
- Silhouette gold star-type collar brass: ½″ size.
- All other silhouette-type collar brass: approximately ⅞″ size.
- Embroidery thread for Chief Officers (where embroidered): Madeira Polyneon Gold 1624.
- Approved manufacturer: Blackinton & Co. (the only authorized model).
Approved rank designations
5 Gold Stars — Director
- Blackinton SKU:
A3731-5C
4 Gold Stars — Chief Deputy Director · State Fire Marshal
- Blackinton SKU:
A3731-4
3 Gold Stars
- Assistant State Fire Marshal
- Deputy Director, Fire Protection Programs
- Deputy Director, Resource Management
- Deputy Director, Cooperative Fire
- Deputy Director, Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation
- Deputy Director, Emergency Incident Awareness
- Region Chief
- Blackinton SKU:
A3731-3
2 Gold Stars
- Chief, Law Enforcement and Fire Prevention
- Asst Deputy Director, Fire Protection
- Asst Deputy Director, Mobile Equipment and Aviation
- Asst Deputy Director, Cooperative Fire
- Asst Deputy Director, Training, Safety, and EMS
- Asst Deputy Director, Fire and Resource Assessment Program
- Asst Deputy Director, Resource Protection & Improvement
- Asst Deputy Director, Forest Practice
- Asst Deputy Director, Community Wildfire Planning and Risk Reduction
- Asst Deputy Director, Community Wildfire Assistance, and Fire Engineering & Investigations
- Asst Deputy Director, Fire & Life Safety, State Fire Training and Code Development & Analysis
- Assistant Region Chief
- Blackinton SKU:
A3731-2
1 Gold Star
- Division Chief, State Fire Marshal
- Forestry and Fire Protection Administrator (Staff Chief)
- Senior Aviation Officer
- Senior Forestry Equipment Manager
- Blackinton SKU:
A3731
5 Crossed Gold Bugles — Unit Chief
- Blackinton SKU:
A2905
4 Crossed Gold Bugles
- Deputy Chief (Assistant Chief w/Differential)
- Aviation Officer III
- Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Supervisory)
- Forester III
- Senior Arson and Bomb Investigator
- Supervising Pipeline Safety Engineer
- Blackinton SKU:
A2906
3 Crossed Gold Bugles
- Division Chief (Assistant Chief)
- Aviation Officer II
- Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Specialist)
- Fire Service Training Specialist III
- Forester II
- Telecommunications Systems Manager
- Forestry Equipment Manager II
- Principal Transportation Engineer
- Blackinton SKU:
A2907
2 Crossed Gold Bugles
- Battalion Chief
- Arson and Bomb Investigator
- Forester I
- Forestry Equipment Manager I
- Pipeline Safety Engineer, Range C
- Supervising Civil Engineer
- Blackinton SKU:
A2908
2 Vertical Silver Bugles (Nickel finish)
- Fire Captain
- Deputy State Fire Marshal, Range B
- Forestry Fire Pilot
- Heavy Fire Equipment Operator
- Pipeline Safety Engineer, Range B
- Forestry Assistant II
- Senior Civil Engineer
- Blackinton SKU:
A2909-2
1 Vertical Silver Bugle (Nickel finish)
- Fire Apparatus Engineer
- Deputy State Fire Marshal, Range A
- Pipeline Safety Engineer, Range A
- Forestry Assistant I
- Blackinton SKU:
A2909
Color rule (gold vs nickel)
The pattern across the rank ladder: - Chief Officers wear gold (5 stars / 4 stars / 3 stars / 2 stars / 1 star · 5 crossed bugles / 4 crossed bugles / 3 crossed bugles / 2 crossed bugles) - Non-Chief Officers wear nickel/silver (2 vertical silver bugles · 1 vertical silver bugle)
The color rule extends across the rest of the uniform: gold-finish buttons, braid, and buckles for Chiefs; silver/nickel for Non-Chiefs.
What about Class A vs B/C/D vs E?
Collar brass is required on Class A, B, C, and D. On Class E it's: - Optional with the LE External and Tactical Vest Carrier. - Required with the LE Internal Vest Carrier and/or while wearing soft body armor under the Uniform Shirt.
Sourcing
All Risk Uniforms stocks the full Blackinton & Co. collar brass line referenced above — every star configuration (1 through 5 gold) and every bugle configuration (crossed and uncrossed, gold and silver/nickel) by SKU.
Where to find this on the policies
Source: Collar Brass Exhibit of the CAL FIRE Uniform Handbook 1500, revised August 2023.
