Today’s fire service is getting more and more technologically advanced. Some of this technology works well and is a welcomed relief to our fire ground operations. Some have been implemented with lack of adequate testing and research and have been proven inefficient. However, it has been embraced due to being technologically advanced comparative to traditional old school methods and thanks to some slick- tongued salesman from corporate America who sold it to management as the latest greatest. Thanks to Captain Adams of Sacramento City Fire Department training Bureau and Mike Ferguson Sacramento City Fire Department E2C (Downtown Delirium) for this video focusing on the basics of forcible entry into a structure. During Probie School we have learned the basics of tool operation such as fork in adz out techniques in relation to halligan use and operation. This is the basic method in which we operate however there are many ways and uses for each of our tools. You and your mind are the limiting factors to what a tool is capable of. This video shows a variety of other techniques using the same tool such as the baseball swing. This is a great technique on wood doors when searching in areas such as roomers, older hotels, apartments ECT. and during low visibility operations where striking tools such as during traditional two man operations is often times difficult at best. Today we often utilize the rabbit tool or hydra ram for our forcible entry operations. Remember it has its limitations, it is not appropriate for all situations and it can fail. We absolutely must maintain proficiency with the basics and basic tools. Remember these techniques just as with hydraulic based tools should always be based upon your size-up and situation.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uor16OYmKs[/youtube]
“Never relinquish basic firemanship skills in leau of technology. Even the most advanced technology can not make up for poor tactics and judgments. “ quote from B/C Mike Wilson, Charlotte Fire Department
This is an ecellent video. It is a great way to review.
It shows a lot about the brothers in Sacramento to include the bloopers also.
I think every Firefighter in america should learn and ingrain the comment from Chief Wilson.
Great video.
Great current video, no fluff just the basics, its nice to see the ease of the Halligan in full use, this is the right video for forcible entry to show a new recruit. I think we all can relate to the bloopers though, keep the good stuff coming.
The video is great! Nice clean skills. Bloopers are always a plus as well. Keep up the good work and as always keep this stuff coming!
Excellent video, good stuff to show the rookies and a good review for others. Great job!
FTM-PTB-EGH
GREAT VIDEO, I WILL SHOW TO MY SHIFT. BUT REMEMBER, EYE PROTECTION. COVER THE EYES, THEIR THE ONLY ONES WE GOT!! BE SAFE, WE ALL GO HOME.
P.S. LOVE THE SITE JEFF
Good vid…during this video you may want to consider some door control rope. Be agressive, but don’t “commit” to what may be waiting for you on the other side of that door.
stay low, look high
Caro ECFR E319
What a great video. Excellent back to basic stuff. I love it. Little weak on the eye protection. I mean, there is no need to risk an injury while training. Other than that our Brothers out west have done a great service to the service with this video. Thanks!
Excellent video……Thanks to the Brothers of Sacramento for the time to educate and refresh the things that we take for granted.
Also, one thing to mention is to keep control over the door when forcing such as using vise grips with a chain attached.
Sacramento…..Thanks again for publishing this as well as the bloopers
I watched the video Tues. Night While I think we all knew how to do this it always pays off to look back over things!
Wed. After I was riding backwards and my company was first due on a single family job. I got to force three doors one outward 2 inward doors into a house and back room!
Thanks for the free training!
Stay Safe
FTM-PTB
1)Shock
2)Gap
3)Set
4)Force
splitting the door jam is pretty sweet. nice work
Brian –
Add:
5) Control.
I want to thank all for the sweet web page I recently found it from a fellow firefighter and I have passed the word of it. I watched this video three weeks ago, I’m a intern firefighter and used the baseball swing with a pick-head axe on an inward swinging door on a structure last Friday I found it to be the sweets thing. Keep up the great work.
great video. just the basics, put it in and swing…none of the “insert the adze 2 inches above the main lock..” BS that there usually is. just do it
The “strike” man should take a “knee” and swing with his axe vertical to allow for a larger “strike” area with the Halligan.. It’s very diiicult in a smoke condition to swing and connect with the small 1 1/2 surface of the adz and flat head… always cross your tools…
J Courtney, Captain
Truck 1
Plainfield NJ
Really great video. The medium of videos are essential to stay up on the basics when we have long down time between fires and forcible entry possibilities
Patrick
Truck 5
Berkeley Fire Dept
Berkeley, ca
Nice refresher video. Besides the eye protection issue, there was a couple of times that the guys were using quite a bit of shoulder on the doors. We’ve had guys diong damage to their shoulder when the door doesn’t move.
Also, compliments to the guys using hand tools instead of their foot on the doors. Looks great on video, but there are plenty of tools that will do the work too.
Great video! Shortly after watching this we were faced with a forced entry situation on an outward swinging wooden door. Only difference is there was a wall running perpendicular to the knob / lock side with only about 3-4 inches of space in between. Needless to say using the fork or adz end off the bat was not an option. What we found to work was placing the pick of the haligan in between the door and the jamb, just below the dead bolt. A couple taps with the axe gave a “widened” purchase. We could then place the adz all the way in and pry open.
John Spanbauer
ALS Quint 6
Richmond, VA
SWEET!! video..I am assigned to Truck co 8 in South west Baltimore city My shift and I viewed this and have adapted the one man entry system. Due to there being a big chance that we are operating on our own, we found that with the type of construction we deal with it is a kick ass method and very effective!