Kent County Chiefs Association

Standard Operating Guidelines &

Standard Operating Procedures

Subject: Helmet Color Designation

SOG # 1-1-5

Approved

May 1999

Approved by: President James L. Price, Jr.

Revised

April 2025

I.                    PURPOSE

To establish guidelines that shall serve to provide a standard helmet coloring system for Kent County Companies and/or Departments.

II.                 POLICY

The Kent County Fire Chief’s Association has established the following guidelines for helmet color Chief Officers, Junior Officers, Firefighters and EMS providers, which shall be adhered to by all companies and/or departments in Kent County.

III.              DEFINITIONS

1.              Chief Officer – Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Battalion Chief, EMS Chief, Deputy EMS Chief, Assistant EMS Chief, Battalion EMS Chief.

2.              Junior Officer – Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Rescue Captain, Rescue Lieutenant, Rescue Sergeant, Truck Captain, Truck Lieutenant, Truck Sergeant, Boat Captain, Boat Lieutenant, Boat Sergeant, EMS Captain, EMS Lieutenant, EMS Sergeant

3.              Interior Firefighter – Any individual successfully completing Maryland Fire Rescue Institute Basic or Essentials I through IV or Firefighter I or possessing Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualification Board certification for Firefighter I or equivalent.

A.            Members shall be willing to wear an SCBA into an IDLH atmosphere.

4.              Non-qualified Firefighter – Any individual who has not successfully completed Maryland Fire Rescue Institute Basic Fire or Essentials I through IV or Firefighter I or does not posses Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualification Board certification for Firefighter I or equivalent.

A.            Or qualified firefighters are not willing to wear SCBA into an IDLH atmosphere.

5.              EMS provider – Any individual successfully completing Maryland Emergency Medical Responder of higher level of training.

IV.              GUIDELINE

1.              Chief Officers

A.            Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Battalion Chief, EMS Chief, Deputy EMS Chief, Assistant EMS Chief, Battalion EMS Chief wear white helmets.

1.              The position title they hold shall be displayed on the side of the helmet for Metro style helmets.

2.              The position title they hold shall be displayed on the front of the helmet for Traditional style helmets.

    2. Junior Officers

A.            Captain, Rescue Captain, Truck Captain, Boat Captain and EMS Captain shall wear red helmets.

1.  The position they hold shall be displayed on the side of

    helmet for Metro style helmets.

2.  The position they hold shall be displayed on the front of

    the helmet for Traditional style helmets.

B.            Lieutenant, Sergeant, Rescue Lieutenant, Rescue Sergeant, Truck Lieutenant, Truck Sergeant, Boat Lieutenant, Boat Sergeant, EMS Lieutenant and EMS Sergeant shall wear blue helmets.

1.  The position they hold shall be displayed on the side of

    the helmet for Metro style helmets.

2.  The position they hold shall be displayed on the front of

    the helmet for Traditional style helmets.

      3. Firefighters

A.            Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer, Safety Officer, Qualified Firefighter, EMS Chief Engineer, Assistant EMS Chief Engineer, EMS Safety Officer, EMS providers that are qualified as Interior Firefighters shall wear black helmets.

1.              The position they hold shall be displayed on the side of the helmet for Metro style helmets.

2.              The position they hold shall be displayed on the front of the helmet for Traditional style helmets.

B.            Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer, Safety Officer, Non-Qualified Firefighters, EMS Chief Engineer, Assistant EMS Chief Engineer, EMS Safety Officer, EMS providers personnel that are not-qualified as Interior Firefighters shall wear yellow helmets.

1.              The position they hold shall be displayed on the side of the helmet for Metro style helmets.

2.              The position they hold shall be displayed on the front of the helmet for Traditional style helmets.

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Renny Grapes

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief John Darling

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Charles Boyles

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Albert (Bert) Piasecki, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Jason Lobley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Mike Pinder

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Lynn Sutton

Submitted for Emergency Service Board Approval on ______June 2nd, 2025_____________

Compliance Date _____July 2nd, 2025______________________________________________

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