About Black Smoke Sticker Co
The Story Behind Black Smoke Sticker Co.
Black Smoke Sticker Co. was born in August 2020, at the heart of the pandemic. At the time, I was working as a firefighter paramedic for a toxic, overworked department. Morale was shot. Guys didn’t even want to show up for shifts—let alone run calls. It was burnout on top of burnout.
Then, one day, a coworker walked into the station with Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac stickers—except they were wearing firefighter helmets. And for a split second, we all laughed. That little spark of joy, that bit of humor in the chaos, hit. That’s when the idea took hold.
I’d dabbled in Photoshop before and had a basic app on my phone, so I started making firefighter-themed stickers and posting them on social media. What began as a way to cope turned into a creative outlet—and then into a mission.
The Joker logo? That came from a moment straight out of The Dark Knight. I’d just finished a brutal 48-hour shift. We’d run 56 calls between two ambulances. On one of those runs, with cops following behind us, I was so slap-happy and sleep-deprived that I rolled the window down and just started laughing—like Heath Ledger’s Joker hanging out the back of the cop car, hair whipping in the wind. At first, I wanted to use Ledger’s version. But it didn’t sit right. Then I saw Joaquin Phoenix’s take—and man, that version hit even deeper. The madness, the isolation, the misunderstood chaos. That became the face of the brand.
I started in my basement with a $30 Epson inkjet printer—no fancy gear, no crew—just me, hand-printing, hand-laminating, and hand-cutting stickers one at a time. I’d be down there for hours. And I loved it.
Then I saw a line-of-duty death post on social media. I wanted to help, so I made a memorial sticker and donated the profits to the firefighter’s GoFundMe. That moment shaped the core values of Black Smoke Sticker Co.—values that haven’t changed since day one:
- Build morale
- Give back to the job
- Protect the men
- Remember the fallen
I’m a proud member of the Metro Atlanta FOOLS and everything this company stands for lines up with the FOOLS ethos. This isn’t just about stickers. It’s about the fire service, the brotherhood, and the fight to keep the spirit alive.
The FOOLS Ethos — What We Live By
FTM-PTB — For The Men, Protect The Brothers
A Mutt is anyone or anything that mistreats or abuses a firefighter. It could be the city, the chief, the mayor, the frequent flyer, or the guy who sets fires and runs.
They’ve never made the last room and never crawled a hallway. I never felt what it means to lay it all on the line.
We do this job so people, including our brothers and sisters, don't die. And in the dark, in the smoke, I don’t care what race, creed, or gender you are. I care that you’re beside me, doing the job.
Leather forever. Stay low and let it blow.
– Captain Mike Dugan, Ladder Co. 123, FDNY (Ret.)
EGH — Everybody Goes Home
Omnis vadit in domum suam
We know not everyone goes home. But it’s what we strive for.
We train. We read. We share knowledge—because that’s how we make the job safer. That’s how we avoid funerals. That’s how we protect each other.
– Author unknown, possibly Old Gallagher
RFB — Remember Fallen Brothers
Memento fratribus lapsus
We lost 343 on 9/11. Their names are etched in us forever.
But it’s not just them. It’s all of the fallen—no matter where they were from or how they died. They deserve to be remembered.
– Lt. Michael Ciampo, FDNY
KTF — Keep the Faith
Servare fidem
They can transfer you. Make you shave. Tell you what not to wear. But don’t let them break your spirit.
Believe in yourself. And believe in those who still believe in the job.
– Captain James L. Jester, Ocean City, NJ
DTRT — Do The Right Thing
Facere ius rei
Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. It may cost you. It may not be what you want. But deep down, we all know the right call when we see it.
Sometimes, doing the right thing means standing alone.
– Lt. Bob Pressler, FDNY (Ret.)
