We Train For Those We Have Lost Heads Up Firefighting We Train For Those We Have Lost So Others May Live

Forcible Entry Heads Up Firefighting

The History of Forcible Entry The Claw tool: In firematic folklore, there is a story about a fire in a bank somewhere in lower Manhattan back in the early years of the New York City Fire Department. As the story goes, the fire was set to cover the traces of a burglary. As the firefighters were “overhauling” they came upon a tool that was unusual in design. The Firefighters determined this tool was used to force entry into the bank. The men reasoned that any tool that was efficient enough to gain entry into a bank would be ideal for the fire service.

The History of Forcible Entry Continued The Halligan Tool: Since these tools were quite heavy and unwieldy, the tools often “mastered the man.” A lighter but equally efficient tool was needed. Along came Chief Hugh Halligan, FDNY, who took the design features of both tools and incorporated them into one hand tool. This tool had three driving heads. It was light (8 ¼ pounds) and incorporated the fork at one end and the adz and a slightly curved pike (instead of the claw) at the other end.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE Hand tools: Nothing can begin in the fire ground until entry is made. Example: Finding the fire and seaches. Heads Up Firefighting

Tools of the trade continued Heads Up Firefighting

Tools of the trade continued Heads Up Firefighting

Hydraulic tools Hydro- ram Porta-Power Heads Up Firefighting

Gas Operated Saws K-12 Chain saws Battery operated saws Heads Up Firefighting

DOORS AND CONSTRUCTION Wooden Look for the easiest means of entrance. How do you defeat the door? Such as: Take the glass, unlock the door. Wood and Glass Hollow Core Solid Core Heads Up Firefighting

Doors Glass Heads Up Firefighting

Doors Metal Solid Hollow Metal: Heads Up Firefighting

ENTRY SIZE-UP Try before you pry!!! How many locks are engaged How solid is the door Type of door/jam Swing of door (in or out)

Sounding the Door 1

Gapping the Door

Set the tool This step requires the most skill. Position forks approximately 6” above or below the lock. Bevel towards the door.

Striking the Tool T-ing off and Sounding the Tool. Maintain control short chopping blows

Force

Control the door Once door is forced do not allow door to swing open Gives a physical barrier between you and the IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) Allowing time to Don SCBA and communicate search pattern.

Alternate Methods To Gapping A Door Batter the door Batter the door frame Remove the door stop Drive the pike end into the door frame and apply pressure to the door with the adz end of the tool

THRU THE LOCK ENTRY This approach is a means of gaining entry by attacking the lock itself Let the fire condition dictate your means of entry Type of door and material Location of locks What else is seen on the door such as bolt heads

Using a lock puller to remove the lock cylinder Using the officers tool The K-Tool Vice grips to spin the lock cylinder out The pike or adz end of a Halligan to drive it out

PADLOCKS Padlock size up: Type of lock How is it attached How many padlocks are their Accessibility do they have a security shield What tools do we have access to

Types of Padlocks Light duty lock Light duty shackle is usually ¼ inch or less Body of lock is solid or laminated Easily forced with Halligan place fork end on shackle and twist

Heavy Duty Padlock Shackle is ¼ inch or larger Case hardened steel Both toe and heel lock Guarded keyway

Special Padlocks Hockey Puck/American 2000 Series No exposed shackle Case hardened Lock fits over staple Lock itself may also have a shield With an aluminum oxide blade cut verticaly ¾ up from the keyway, lock will fail if no security guard a pipe wrench can be used to spin the lock of the pin

ROLL DOWN SECURITY GATES Types of gates Sliding scissor gate Manual roll down Mechanical roll down Chain operated Gear operated Electric operated

Forcing Roll-Down Gates Locate and remove all locking devices and attempt to manually raise door If necessary to cut the roll down curtain to gain access you can use either the Triangular cut or the box cut Each fire situation will determine the type of cut

Triangular Cut This is the quickest means of entry. It is only two cuts in a triangle pattern with the final cut crossing the top. Only down fall is the large pile of gate in front of opening.

Box Cut Requires three vertical cuts The first two vertical cuts should be at least a foot away from guard rails The final cut at the top - centered between the first two cuts Drive the pike end of the halligan into slat to remove. The door will fall leaving a squared opening.

FORCING WINDOW BARS Usually secured to window by four points with lag bolts into brick. Bars should be attacked at the weakest point Striking brick where the bar is mounted may break the anchor points. This will allow the window bars to be preyed away from window Using a power saw, cut mounting brackets. This will allow complete removal of window bars. Importance- gives means of egress in case of emergency.

FORCING CELLAR DOORS (BILKO) Usually secured with slide bolt near center of doors. Cut through the center of doors Pry up the cut piece, then remove sliding bolt to gain entry.

HINGES Standard Hinges – most commonly found in residential occupancies. Self Closing Hinge – more common in commercial occupancies. Pin Type Hinge – commonly mounted on exterior of commercial occupancies.

Forcing Hinges Exposed Hinge - place fork of halligan over hinge and pry up or down. Self Closing Hinge – unscrew or drive off hinge cap and pull pin down and out. Pin Hinge – best method is to use power saw. Or use maul to break hinge anchor point. Always attack upper hinge first allowing smoke and heat to rise while forcing lower hinge.

QUESTIONS

We Train For Those We Have Lost Heads Up Firefighting We Train For Those We Have Lost So Others May Live