Fire and EMS Special Ops Patch — Order This Hydrant Compass Maltese Cross
Design S1555A at a glance
A Maltese cross with a red merrowed edge and charcoal arms, centered on a fire hydrant standing on a compass star. Red and gold carry the hydrant and star against the dark field. Lettering fills the arms with a department name for a combined fire and EMS agency, a three-word motto and a special ops line with its founding year.
Maltese cross shapeRed merrowed borderFire hydrantCompass starCharcoal field3 thread colors
About this hydrant and compass star Maltese cross
Charcoal instead of red changes the whole feel of a Maltese cross — darker, more modern, closer to tactical than ceremonial. That suits a special operations team inside a combined fire and EMS department. The hydrant is the fire service's oldest everyday symbol, and setting it on a compass star suggests a team that responds in every direction, whatever the call.
Customize it before production: letter the arms with your department, team and founding year, put your own motto in the side arms, or switch to a full red field for station uniforms. 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.
Fire and EMS special ops patch quick facts
- Embroidered fire and EMS special ops patches cost $3.00–$20.00 each depending on quantity, with a 10-patch minimum.
- Rush production takes 7–10 days and is available on every custom patch.
- Charcoal-field Maltese crosses read as specialty insignia next to standard red station patches.
- Combined fire and EMS departments often order one cross per division with different lettering.
- Hydrant silhouettes hold their shape in thread from 3" tall.
- Owl Badges is a US-based badge and patch manufacturer in Simi Valley, California, in business since 1999.
Customize this hydrant compass cross: backing, size, and thread options
- Backing: sew-on for station shirts, hook-side velcro for special ops and medic jackets, iron-on for caps
- Sizes: 2"–12" — 4" for shoulders, 3" for caps, 10" for jacket backs
- Colorways: charcoal, red and gold as shown, or full red, or a black-and-gray subdued set
- Border: red merrowed (shown), or gold for a dress version
- Thread: metallic gold on the compass star points
- Artwork: add a Star of Life to one arm for EMS crews; the hydrant can become a helmet, no art charge
Who orders this design
Combined fire and EMS departments, special operations teams and technical rescue units order this charcoal cross for station wear, team jackets and medic bags. Departments often letter one version for special ops and another for the EMS division. It also works well as a morale patch for team members.
Custom fire and EMS special ops 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.
Fire and EMS special ops patch questions
Can we add a Star of Life for EMS crews?
Yes. A small Star of Life fits on one arm or behind the hydrant, redrawn at no charge. Many departments order fire and EMS versions together.
Is the charcoal field available in red?
Yes. A traditional red field works with the same art. Preview red, charcoal and black side by side in the markup tool.
Can the three motto words be changed?
Yes. Any three words — or a single phrase — fit the side arms. Your 4-hour mockup shows the exact spacing.
Can the hydrant be replaced with another symbol?
Yes. A helmet, axe or rescue tool can stand on the compass star instead, redrawn at no art charge.
How do I request changes to this cross?
Open the markup tool in the quote form, circle the hydrant or any arm, pin numbered notes and preview colorways. The marked-up cross attaches to your request.
Exploring more fire and rescue designs?
This charcoal cross suits a specialty team. For helmet crosses, station shields and engine company rounds, browse the fire department patches beside this hydrant and compass star cross. Choosing between embroidered, woven and PVC, or ordering from your own artwork? The patch hub pricing a charcoal hydrant Maltese cross explains each build.
Notes
Drop a 📍 pin on the patch, then type what you want changed there.




