PHOTOS: Every fire department has its own customs and traditions that have been carried on through the years.
Some have different colored badges to distinguish officers or different colored turnout gear, but DeFuniak Springs firefighters wear theirs on their helmets. Stickers in the shape of an extrication tool known as the “jaws of life” can be spotted plastered around the black, empty spaces of their helmets.
Fire Chief Ross Sheffield said the stickers are awarded to firefighters who have worked hard to safely remove a vehicle from around a person who has been in a collision. The tradition began almost 20 years ago, long before Sheffield took over as chief in 2020, but continues to be a symbol of “honor” at the department.