First Due Fire Patch — Order This Keystone Shield Design
Design S0819A at a glance
A keystone-shaped shield with a red border, holding a maltese cross loaded with the tools of a first-arriving company: a hydrant, crossed axes and a ladder. Lettering covers the town, a department line, a first due unit banner, a station number and the founding year. Each field restitches to your station's wording, and the keystone outline sets it apart from the usual round fire patch.
Keystone shield cutRed merrowed borderMaltese crossHydrantCrossed axes and ladderStation number field
About this keystone first due design
The keystone cut gives a fire company patch a squared-shoulder look that reads as established and structural — fitting for crews who pride themselves on being first in. Navy surrounds a red-and-gold maltese cross, so the cross pops at a distance, and the hydrant, axes and ladder pack the essentials of an engine-and-truck response into one emblem without extra ornament.
Customize it around your house: change the first due banner to your engine or truck designation, put your station number in its field, or swap the ladder for a nozzle if you run an engine-only station. This page shows a design concept we manufacture to order — your stitch-ready proof arrives 6–12 hours after you order, and nothing is produced until you approve it.
First due fire patch quick facts
- Embroidered first due patches cost $3.00–$20.00 each depending on quantity, with a 10-patch minimum.
- Rush production takes 7–10 days.
- A keystone shield's squared top edge sits flat and square on a uniform sleeve.
- A red border on a navy field is one of the most requested schemes for station shoulder patches.
- Station shoulder patches run 3.5" to 4"; job-shirt chest versions run about 3".
- Owl Badges manufactures badges and patches in Simi Valley, California, and has since 1999.
Customize this first due patch: backing, size, and thread options
- Backing: sew-on for class B shirts, iron-on for job shirts and caps, velcro for turnout and gear bags
- Sizes: 2"–12" — 3.5"–4" for shoulders, 10"+ for station banners and jacket backs
- Colorways: navy, red and gold as shown, or black-and-red and subdued gray versions
- Border: red merrowed (shown) or a gold merrowed edge
- Thread: metallic gold for the cross trim, any color for the hydrant and tools
- Artwork: swap the hydrant, axes or ladder for your station's own apparatus at no art charge
Who orders this design
Engine and truck companies that take pride in first-in response order this shield for class B shirts, job shirts and station merchandise. Busy urban houses often build it for a single shift, while combination departments order one design for career and volunteer members. Shift-pride orders usually include a few hats and a jacket back.
Custom first due patch pricing — embroidered
| Quantity | Price per patch |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | $20.00 |
| 20–29 | $14.00 |
| 30–49 | $11.00 |
| 50–74 | $6.50 |
| 75–99 | $6.00 |
| 100–249 | $5.50 |
| 250–499 | $3.00 |
Rush production in 7–10 days is available on all custom patches. Design your changes in the markup tool above, or get this patch quoted exactly as shown.
What your quote covers
- Your exact spec — quantity, size, backing, and colorway, priced to the piece
- A free digital mockup within 4 hours, before you commit to anything
- Rush production in 7–10 days whenever you need it
- No setup, digitizing, or art fees — the table price is the whole price
How ordering this patch works
Request a quote
Send this design (marked up or as-is) with your quantity. Quotes are answered 24/7 within 4 hours.
Approve your proof
Your stitch-ready proof arrives 6–12 hours after ordering. Nothing is produced until you approve it.
We verify & produce
Law-enforcement orders are verified with your agency before production — standard practice since 1999.
Delivery confirmed
We confirm your shipping address by phone, then email tracking the day your patches ship.
🏛 Bidding for your department or agency? We answer bids, RFQs and purchase-order quotes — see how agency bids and RFQs work, or tick “This quote is for a bid” in the quote form.
First due fire patch questions
Can the first due banner carry our engine or truck number?
Yes. Each lettering field restitches independently, so the banner can read your company designation and the number field your station.
Can we swap the ladder for a different tool?
Yes. Nozzles, halligans, pike poles or your own rig can replace any of the tools on the cross. We redraw them at no charge and show the change on your proof.
Does the keystone shape cost more than a round patch?
No. Shape doesn't change the price — size, stitch coverage and quantity do. Your quote lists the per-patch price at each quantity tier.
What backing works for job shirts?
Iron-on is quickest for job shirts and caps; sew-on lasts longer through station laundry. Many companies order both in one quote.
How do I send our station's changes?
Mark them on the design with the quote form's markup tool — circle the banner, pin notes and choose a colorway. The marked-up mockup is attached to your quote.
Building a patch for a different company or station?
This keystone is one cut among many. The fire department patch range including keystone first due shields and maltese crosses shows rounds, crosses and shields side by side for every kind of company. Weighing embroidery against PVC, or starting from a sketch, is easier on the patch hub covering materials and quantity pricing for hydrant-and-ladder crests.
Notes
Drop a 📍 pin on the patch, then type what you want changed there.