Vise grips are a versatile tool for a number of different reasons. One of their many uses is to clamp a garage door open. When working in or around a garage it’s easy to open and keep open even after utilities have already been secured. From the inside, simply reach up and activate the emergency release mechanism, which frees the door from the automatic door opener (shown in the photo below.) Once the door is open, simply take the vise grips and clamp on the track to prevent to door from closing.

The door is much “safer” once it has been released from the door opener mechanism and clamped open. The automatic garage door opener no longer has an effect on the door. This was one of the speculations in a video we posted a few years ago, that radio interference caused the garage door opener to activate and close the door. (Which would not have happened if utilities were secured.) Another reason why the door is safer is because if heat builds up in the garage around the springs this will not cause the door to close since the track is blocked by the vise grips. (make sure the vise grips are clamped tight) The springs are normally located on the front wall above the door, or along side of the tracks. If heat builds up in this area, it could cause the springs to anneal, lose tension, and lower the door. The weakening of the spring was the other speculation in the video. A simple clamp on the door would prevent either situation from happening and prevents committing more useful tools to be used to prop the door open.

Jeff Daniels from Goodyear (AZ) Fire sent in a different method of securing a flashlight to your lid. This idea simply takes a thorn resistant bicycle tube and attaches it under the brim of the helmet. The thorn resistant tube is thicker than a standard tube and holds up better to the abuse. The tube expands to fit various size flashlights, and keeps them in place pretty effectively. Some people prefer to have the light mounted under the brim of the helmet to minimize a possible entanglement hazard. As you can see from the close-up picture the tube was secured using the shell retaining screws. Obviously this set-up will not work on all types of helmets, but it is a lightweight, cheap and effective way to secure your light if works on your style lid.

The thorn resistant bicycle tube could be used above the helmet as well. For those who have the large inter-tube that runs all the way around the helmet, the smaller thorn resistant tube could be zip tied to the larger helmet band to achieve similar results. This set-up would allow the allow this style of flashlight to be attached without using a “hard mount” bracket.

Vise grips are a great tool to have in your pocket. There are many great uses for the tool. Firefighter Sam Russell form Capital City (AK) sent in this useful modification to a pair of vise grips. Take a quick trip to the hardware store and find an eye bolt and nut that fit in place of the adjustment screw on the vise grips.

This modification is two fold, first it makes adjusting the vise grips much easier since you have the eye of the bolt to use for leverage when moving the adjustment screw. Second (and more importantly) the eye bolt gives you an attachment point for a carabineer. The attachment point is useful when using carabineer with webbing or rope on the tool to secure a padlock or chain during rotary saw forcible entry.

Sgt. Scott Madden from Loudoun County (VA) sent in an idea he got from one of his brothers at Station 6.

The idea is to use a small spring hand clamp as a door wedge. Scott points out that the clamps work well in a number of different ways, and on various types of doors. Even though its technically not in his pocket, check out the What’s in your pockets page for pictures of the clamps in use.

We went ahead and added the Bungee Cord trick from a few weeks ago to the What’s in Your Pockets page, and figure we’d include another submission while we were at it.

Lieutenant Brad Dougherty from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services sent in this latest what’s in your pockets update. The irony is that his submission is about what’s not in his pockets. He took an old army ammo bag and placed some of the items that firefighters typically carry in their pockets. The bag has a large interior compartment which has some organization slots on the inside. It also has exterior compartments for other items. These compartments allow the bag to be organized without being too cluttered. He uses the bag to eliminate the excess weight in his pockets. While responding to an alarm, he reaches into the bag to retrieve what he may need on that particular alarm. He even pointed out that he has taken the whole bag on a few special occasions.

Screen and storm doors are nothing more than a nuisance when performing a door size up and forcing entry on a residential structure. Obviously they can be removed through various methods, but sometimes that may be more trouble than it’s worth. They are not easily chocked because of the piano style hinge or otherwise limited accessible hinge side. Removing the door closers (newer doors have two, top and bottom) is time consuming and does little to secure the door if the wind is blowing from the hinge side.

Samuel Hittle from Wichita Firehouse 10 sent in an idea that another brother from Wichita shared with him. Firefighter Tom Dent from Firehouse 9 showed him a solution utilizing a bungee cord carried in his pocket, the bungee cord is used to quickly and easily secure these doors. The boys from Firehouse 10 liked the idea so much they attached an 18” bungee to the irons. Having it attached to the irons makes it readily available for any firefighter assigned to the door position. When an attachment point cannot be found on the structure, they simply create a purchase (to hook into) on the structure by driving the halligan into the house or porch wall.

Lt. Pat Gallagher from Martin County Fire has an interesting idea for hurricane windows. He has found that a pruning saw makes quick work on them, and caries a small folding saw in his pocket for that purpose. Check out the What’s in your pockets Page for details.

Lieutenant Walt Lewis from Orlando Fire sent in this idea about a flashlight wrap…

A backup flashlight that is simple to use with a gloved hand is vital on the fireground. An idea he picked up from a previous partner (Eng Mike Horn, may he rest in peace) is to wrap the handle of the flashlight like you would a halligan. One step better, is to have the oxygen tubing end at the push button to activate the light, so that in a hurry, with gloves on, and in the dark, you can find the switch and get your light going.

In addition, Lt. Lewis submitted a great write-up about flashlights, and their place on the fireground click here for the full write-up.

Lt. Tim Biermann from Baltimore City Rescue 1 sent in this great idea to keep your pockets organized and protected. Check out the What’s in your Pocket’s section for more details. It’s simple and effective.

Firefighter Ryan Marzheuser from Sycamore Township Ohio sent in this photo of another way to conveniently store a door wedge. Check put the What’s in your pockets section for more details.