ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Escambia County briefly banned custom fire station logos and patches from fire trucks and equipment, then reversed the decision less than 24 hours later after strong community backlash.
The unique station emblems, often tied to neighborhood identity and local history, were slated for removal on Nov. 5 under an administrative order, WEAR reported. Following public outcry amplified by the Escambia County Professional Firefighters, county officials dropped the ban and allowed the patches to remain.
In a Facebook post, the firefighters’ union criticized the decision as unnecessary, noting there had been no complaints regarding the company patches.
Many firehouses display a station-specific patch — a small detail with deep meaning. Some designs honor fallen members, including Lt. Terrell Jackson, who died at 38 in January 2023 after a medical emergency. Friends and colleagues, like Mayra Diaz, remember him as a devoted father who dedicated himself to serving others, leaving behind a son and a daughter.
The logo bearing Jackson’s initials would have been banned under the county’s order.
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The county has not explained the reason for the ban. Administrator Wes Moreno declined an interview but issued a written statement to WEAR News.
“After receiving overwhelming feedback from the Escambia County Fire Rescue team and members of our community, we are not removing any individual fire station emblems at this time,” Moreno said. “We understand these emblems are important symbols for each firehouse and represent not just the firefighters, but the communities that they serve.”
Does your department permit station or company logos to be displayed on fire apparatus and duty uniforms?
