Sub-Officer (usually addressed as "Sub") is a rank in the British fire services, between Leading Firefighter and Station Officer. Firefighter with an axe A firefighter, sometimes still called a fireman though women have increasingly joined firefighting units, is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ... Leading Firefighter is a rank in the British fire services, between Firefighter and Sub-Officer. ... A rank in the New Zealand Fire Service and also in fire departments in the United Kingdom, a Station Officer is a fire fighter officer with responsibility for a number of junior fire fighters. ...

A Sub-Officer is usually in charge of a small one-pump fire station or a watch in a larger station. In some brigades they may be in charge of multi-pump stations. A fire apparatus, fire engine or fire truck usually refers to a vehicle designed to fight fires. ...

The badge of rank is two white or silver bars on the epaulettes (or the collar of the firefighting uniform). Epaulette pronunciation: ĕp-ǝ-lĕt, a French word meaning little shoulders (epaule, referring to shoulder), originally meant only one type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia or rank by military or other organizations. ...

The British fire services are undergoing considerable modernisation at present and the rank structure in particular is being changed. Sub-Officers are being renamed "Watch Commanders" in many brigades.