 Los Angeles Fire Department Official Seal The Official Seal of the Los Angeles Fire Department is of great significance to the men and women of the LAFD. Emblematic of our organization and its culture, the Official Seal appears on many Fire Department documents and is displayed ceremoniously on flags, banners and lecterns. It also serves as the basis for a popular Collector's Edition Patch. We welcome you to learn more about this inspiring symbol. THE SHAPEThe Official Seal of the Los Angeles Fire Department is round to symbolize uniform and eternal vigilance. THE BIRDThe mythical Phoenix, an eternal "bird of fire", symbolizes power, tradition and the cycle of nature. Upon our Seal, the mature bird's claws are not extended, rather they are secured firmly about the axe, a traditional tool in the battle against fire, signifying the importance of physical strength and control. THE CROSSOur contemporary version of the Maltese Cross has four branches representing the indestructible and at times adversarial elements ever-present in a Firefighter's realm: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. The actual cross used by the Knights of Malta, a more geometric version of this famed symbol, has a pair of distinct points upon each of the four branches. These are said to denote eight noble aspirations:
THE COAT OF ARMSEmblazoned upon the center of our Maltese Cross is the Coat of Arms from our City's Official Seal, which is also found on the badge worn by every Los Angeles Firefighter. Its presence dignifies the history of our City and honors our central purpose of courageously protecting its people. The lion and the castle symbolize the Arms of Spain and represent Los Angeles under Spanish rule from 1542-1821. The eagle and serpent portray the Arms of Mexico and of Los Angeles under Mexican rule from 1822-1846. The Bear Flag shows the valiant spirit of the new California Republic of 1846, while the Stars and Stripes boldly indicate a modern day Los Angeles that is a proud and deeply patriotic part of a nation and people united. THE HELMETThe Helmet symbolizes our commitment to safety, as well as signifying our respect for knowledge, wisdom, character and being. THE STAR OF LIFEThe "Star of Life" is a six barred blue cross representing the six critical elements of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which we are honored and trusted to optimize:
THE SERPENT AND STAFFThe single coiled Serpent and Staff upon the Star of Life are representative of Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing. THE BUGLEThe Bugle signifies the importance of clear communication and unified command. It is symbolic of the trumpets and megaphones that were historically used to coordinate firefighting efforts. THE LADDERThe Ladder symbolizes the growing structure of our vocation, as well as signifying the importance of a Firefighter's willingness to rise up and overcome any challenge. We welcome you to visit a Los Angeles Fire Station and see how these virtues are embodied in the men and women of the LAFD.   |