Montag does have a helmet with 451 emblazoned on it, the temperature at which paper burns, a symbol that firemen have been turned into censors, burning books. But he also wears two other symbols on his uniform: a salamander on his arm and a phoenix in a disc on his chest.Click to see full answer. Moreover, what does the number 451 symbolize?The numerals 451 represent the temperature at which paper burns. Whether this number is accurate or not, it has become one of the symbols of being a fireman in this society. In Bradbury’s dystopia, a fireman is not one who puts out fires but a person whose job it is to burn books. why would Montag have these symbols on his clothing? They both relate to fire and his clothing protects him from the flames. Who does Montag meet on the way home? During his conversation, Montag says that “You never wash it off completely” referring to the kerosene. Considering this, what is written on the firemen’s helmets in Fahrenheit 451? The number 451 is not Montag’s identification number, but the temperature at which paper ignites; all the firemen wear these helmets, not for personal protection but to identify them as firemen, in charge of destroying books.What is the symbolism of the hearth and the salamander?“The Hearth and the Salamander” focuses on Montag’s job as a fireman and his home life. The hearth, or fireplace, is a traditional symbol of the home, and the salamander is one of the official symbols of the firemen, as well as what they call their fire trucks.