The most prominent symbol in use today by the fire service is the Maltese Cross. It can be seen above in the Firefighter-Biz logo. The cross represents courage, honor, and dedication; a very fitting symbol for the fire service. It can be seen on just about every firefighter's uniform and on many of the fire apparatus that serve the United States and the world. Originally known as St. Johns cross, it has become known as the Maltese cross because of history discussed below involving the Island of Malta.

The Island of Malta covers an area of about 95 square miles. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy (to the North) and Libya (to the South). Over the years, because of its location, the island has been a strategic location during military conflicts.

The origin of the maltese cross can be traced back to the days of the Crusades, a battle between Christendom and Islam. The original Maltese Cross (actually St. Johns Cross) is believed to have been an 8 pointed cross that looked like 4 arrowheads, pointing inward so that each tip touched the other. The 8 points were used to represent the 8 obligations of the knights. These obligations were 1. charity 2. loyalty, 3. chivalry, 4. gallantry, 5. generosity to friends 6.generosity to enemies, 7. protection of the weak, and 8. dexterity in service. This symbol was used by the Knights of St. John.

The story of the Knights of St. John is very interesting. The men, known as the Knights of St. John, were originally monks that were known as the Hospitalers of St. John. They were attached to a hospice; a shelter to aid pilgrims visiting the Holy Lands. This charitable group cared for the sick with great compassion (later, one of these hospices became the first hospital). These monks known as the Hospitalers of St. John started offering armed escorts to assist the pilgrims traveling through the more dangerous areas of the Middle East. These Hospitalers evolved into a military order out of necessity during the Crusades. They then became known as the Knights of St. John.

The Knights of St John were involved in many battles during the crusades. They usually fought with other bands of Crusaders, typically bringing up the rear in the battles. This was probably due to their history as hospitalers . they knew about caring for the injured. One particular enemy, the Saracens (whose descendents, it is believed, now reside in Turkey), fought battles with a horrifying weapon. They had learned of it about 300 years earlier while fighting the Byzantines; it was known as "Greek Fire." Greek Fire was a sticky, gelatinous, and highly flammable liquid. It is thought to have been made out of naptha, sulfur, and other substances (it's exact formula is no longer known). The Saracens would use this weapon on land and sea. From sea, they would use bronze tubes, and a technology not known today, to dispense jets of the flaming liquid like today's flamethrowers.

The flaming material would stick to everything (mariners, hulls, masts, etc.) and continue to burn . not even water could extinguish it.This made it a major weapon on the seas. On land they would use the same technique to deliver the Greek Fire as well as others. One method of delivery was to use glass bombs filled with the flammable liquid (similar to today's molitov cocktail). Another involved arrows and spears dipped into the liquid and hurled into the advancing Crusaders. If the liquid failed to spontaneously burst into flames, flaming torches would be thrown into the crowd, causing the sticky liquid to ignite. This caused severe burns, excruciating pain, and agonizing deaths.

While fighting their enemy as any knight would do, they risked horrible death; the Knights of St. John would advance forward and desperately try to rescue their fallen comrades in arms. They would beat down the flames and drag the burned victims to safety. Thus, they became the first organized fire rescue and suppression service; the first true firefighters!

Many years later, the Knights of St. John were relocated to Malta to help secure the militarily important Island (discussed earlier). They then became known as the knights of Malta. Their symbol, the 8-pointed cross adorns the flag of Malta to this day.

Though changed some from the original look of the Maltese Cross, the symbol has been adopted by the fire service of today. It is a fitting symbol. In much the same way as the Knights of St. John (and later Knights of Malta) did, firefighters wear the Maltese Cross to symbolize their willingness to risk their lives to save others.