The logo "DCFD" has been around for a long time and is found on uniforms, caps, t-shirts jackets and all kinds of gear the 2,000 members of D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services use -- some of which they pay for with their own money.
Recently, Chief Kenneth Ellerbe proposed banning gear that doesn't have a new logo -- "FEMS," which stands for "Fire and Emergency Medical Services."
"Part of our mission's firefighting; part of our mission is pre-hospital care," Ellerbe said. "We want to make sure all of our employees feel included in the insignia we display."
The union calls "DCFD" a strong brand recognized by the public, especially after the heroic actions of first responders on Sept. 11, 2001. Changing the logo to "FEMS" on the back of their uniforms or shirts could confuse the public, making them think firefighters are federal agents, the union argues.
"Citizens I talked to think the insignia means FEMA, which could jeopardize their work," Fire Union President Ed Smith said.
"We want to make sure they have equal billing, that people recognize there's importance in both of these areas, fighting fires and making sure we protect people when they have health conditions that need to be addressed," Mayor Vincent Gray said.
The union was not consulted about the name change, officials said.
Ellerbe has agreed more time is needed to consider the change, so there will be a 120-day "cooling off" period.
"We'll have an open house and we'll discuss it openly," Ellerbe said. "We'll negotiate behind closed doors with the union and we'll get it hammered out."
