| King's Fire Service Medal | |
| Presenter: | United Kingdom and Commonwealth |
| Type: | Medal |
| Eligibility: | Members of the Fire Services |
| Awarded For: | 'acts of exceptional courage and skill at the cost of their lives' or for the 'exhibition of conspicuous devotion to duty'.[1] |
| Post-Nominals: | KFSM (2022–present) QFSM (1954–2022) |
| Established: | 19 May 1954 |
| Precedence Label: | Order of Wear |
| Higher: | King's Police Medal, for Gallantry (KFSM for gallantry) King's Police Medal, for Distinguished Service (KFSM for service) |
| Lower: | Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal (KFSM for gallantry) King's Ambulance Service Medal (KFSM for service)[2] |
The King's Fire Service Medal, introduced in 1954, is awarded to members of the fire services in the United Kingdom for distinguished service or gallantry. It was also formerly awarded by Commonwealth countries, most of which now have their own honours systems.
Members of recognised fire brigades were eligible for the King's Police Medal from its creation in July 1909, with the award renamed the King's Police and Fire Services Medal in September 1940. In 1954 separate medals were established for the police and the Fire Service, with the Queen's Police Medal and the Queen's Fire Service Medal both instituted on 19 May 1954.[3] Recipients from 1969 to 8 September 2022 may use the post-nominal letters “QFSM”.[4] Recipients from 8 September 2022 may use the post-nominal letters "KFSM".
The award has two categories. The most common is the King's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service. The equivalent medal for gallantry, the King's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry, can only be awarded posthumously and has, up to 2022, never been awarded,[5] with members of the fire service also eligible for the George Cross, George Medal and the King's Gallantry Medal.
There is provision for the forfeiture of the award in the event of a recipient later being convicted of a criminal offence.[4]