302: Mourning PERIOds

Mourning periods are a 72-hour period before the funeral of a slain firefighter. During that period, mourning bands shall be issued. Mourning bands are defined as a thin elastic piece of cloth designed to be worn over a Firefighter's badge. Black in color. Used by all uniformed members of the Department to display official mourning. 

Mourning periods result in the issuance of mourning bands. Mourning bands shall be worn in the following circumstances:

1. Upon the line of duty death of an active Firefighter. The mourning band shall be mandatorily worn for a period of 72 real life hours from the official announcement.

2. By all Firefighters in uniform or in civilian clothing while displaying a badge when attending the funeral of an active Firefighter. Upon the completion of the funeral, the mourning band shall be removed.

3. At the direction of the head of the department, when special circumstances dictate that a department display of official mourning is appropriate. This will be announced and regulated via a special advisory.

Refer to the Community Liaison Office website for more information regarding Line of Duty Deaths and Mourning Periods.

Official announcement will be made by FD Command only for characters who have been killed in character, permanently. This also means that firefighters should avoid purposefully creating extremely similar characters to the one killed. 

Fire Department Command will use their discretion to determine the suitability, depending on the circumstances surrounding the death. In general, FD Command will grant this more sparsely, to preserve the significance of the symbol.

Refer to the Community Liaison Office website for more information regarding Line of Duty Deaths and Mourning Periods.