The medal recognizes members of recognized Canadian fire services who had served for 20 years, ten years of which have been served in the performance of duties involving potential risks.

A bar, bearing a maple leaf in silver, is given for each additional 10 years served.

The Medal is suspended by a ribbon of five equal stripes three red and two gold.

[2] Subsequent awards of the medal are denoted by a plain silver bar with a maple leaf in the centre, attached to the medal's suspension ribbon.

When worn as an undress ribbon individuals who have been awarded a bar to the medal indicate this by wearing a silver maple leaf on the centre of the ribbon.