Dave Weinman from Frederick County (MD) sent in this photo and description of their “force bag.†The bag becomes a one stop shop for both destructive combat forcible entry operations and routine through the lock and non-emergency entry operations. They routinely grab the force bag and the irons (they use the popular 8lb force axe and a tuned up pro bar) or a rotary saw, resulting in very few doors that they are not able to defeat.Â
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The kit consists of a Hydra-Ram and its standard bag with the pictured tools added to perform a number of different operations. In addition to the Hydra-Ram and mallet, (which may or may not be necessary when carrying the irons) they have included the following tools: a modified channel lock tool with key tools in the handles for the removal of rim locks, a K tool in case the rim lock needs some extra encouragement, an additional key tool to take care of the stem hole or recessed latch like those found on Adams Rite commercial locks. For less fortified doors they have also included: a bucket handle tool for the opening of double glass doors with push bar openers, and a shove knife for making quick work of unsecured knob locks. A vice grip with chain is also included for lock cutting operations, or door control. The bag is finished out with wood wedges for capturing progress during one man forcible entry or for securing open a forced door.
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The bag is fairly comprehensive and addresses the common forcible entry needs they have identified in their first due area. The strapped carry bag slung over the shoulder allows the member assigned to FE to carry the irons in one hand while maintaining.
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I got a fever. And the only prescription is MORE WEDGES.
Don’t forget the “R” Tool this will take locks that the “K” won’t.
Could you expand on how you use the bucket handle? I think I can envision it but not sure
Dan,
See Fire Engineering’s article, this should clear up the ole’ bucket handle trick. A paint roller is sturdier and will work better but for the sake of compactness, the bucket handle will usually do the trick.
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-161/issue-4/features/tips-for-improving-effectiveness-in-forcible-entry.html
Stay Low
I see a length of Chain on the Vice Grips. We made a change to our set up of this tool. Instead of a chain we secured a 25 foot lenght of rope to the end. We left the vice grip attached to the door handle of the fire apartment after we forced the door and would toss the rope down the hallway against the wall in the direction of the exit stairwell. It allowed the engine and the truck to exit the apartment if conditions deteriorated and we could pull the door closed from a distance and not be taking a beating. This works especially well during wind driven fire evolutions. If you arent familiar with wind driven fires please educate yourself as they can effect PD’s as well as MD’s. At the end of the piece of rope I wrapped a large of ball of tape so as to find it easier. You can also use the 6 foot hook to pull a door closed from a distance. Cheers.
Do you have a Donkey Kick hidden in that bag somewhere? Nice work Brothers.
You should throw some kind of totally unrelated object in there. Like a tennis ball. Just to see how many firemen will lie and say they know why you use a tennis ball for forcible entry.
Does anyone know where I can buy or have made a pair of the vice grips that have been modified for the commercail style locks? just like in the picture in this post above and in the “whats in your pockets” section????
Matt – Easy; take your Vice-Grips into the hardware store and find an eye-bolt that fits your thread, buy it and whatever you want to use for your lanyard. Done and done. Stay safe.
Just take the last link of your chain and put it in a vise. It will “egg shape” the link thus allowing the factory adjustment bolt to fit through the link. Use a large washer between the bolt head and chain if you make it too big. This outfit will also clip right to the grab bar of the rotary saw…..the possibilities are endless.
We put a swivel on our FE vice grips, just so as you spin the adjustment screw, you don’t have to spin the entire length of chain to keep it from geting twisted.
I love all these different ideas on how to make and modify tools and different tactics….somebody should come up with a website so we can share them all with each other
Bulldawg2299 – I think you’ve found just such a website!
Anyone know of any articles or tutorials on using the shove knife? I’ve had terrible luck with it and could use some suggestions.
Yes, Don, I do….Throw it away. They don’t work for s@#t. I carry one and I think it’s only worked about 3 times. But, I would like to know that too.
Dman we have been trained to use tennis ball/racquete under car door handles so they dont latch when cutting on cars. Obviously not used often just another tool! ha
Don,
Here is a useful reply to your question…
Check out this page written by Bob Farrell. You may have heard of him, he is the owner of a little known company called fire hooks unlimited and is a Captain in the FDNY. Maybe even Dman can get something out of this the next time he is thinking about chucking his shove knife…
http://midwestfirefighter.com/2010/10/27/1232/
Stay Low.
Jesus. Did you guys invent the shove knife?
Seriously though,I think the issue usually is trying a rabbeted jamb, which doesn’t work worth and shit. Stop jambs, the tool is fairly useful and usually does work.
Instead of adding the “R” tool which is essentially a larger “K” Tool, I would add a Rex tool that had been modified ! Cut the shaft off of it and have a staple welded onto it , so you can use the Adze end of the halligan, just like the “K” tool Some have even modified it a little further and placed a hump in the staple so you can either use the adze or pike of the halligan. This tool makes the “R” redundant in a force kit
Here is a link showing the Mods to Rex tool, Very lightweight and compact design when modified !
http://blog.brotherhoodinstructors.com/2012/03/another-rex-tool-modification-by-andrew-brassard/
DMAN72, what color tennis ball? A leaf blower tube can be modified to shoot tennis balls further.
Nice bag of equipment, but I just keep all mine in a rubber glove stored in my radio pocket. Oh, and there is a dehydrated truck crew in there too in case we need some extra help. Just add water!
Can someone please explain the visegrips and chain. I have never seen or heard of that combination would like to know more. Thanks
ff2114,
the purpose of the visegrips and chain is for cutting padlocks with a rotary saw. Clamp the visegrips to an area of the padlock out of the way where you will be making your cut and then a firefighter will hold the chain to keep the padlock steady for another firefighter cutting it. The chain is there for safety in case the saw jumps or something else goes bad and wont cut a firefighter like it would if he is holding onto the visegrips themselves.
We used to keep alot of things in the hydra ram bag. On a working highrise fire we could not easily get the hydra ram out of the bag. Now we keep our through the lock tools in a seperate bag for those type calls and keep the hydra ram and shot mallet in its own bag. This has worked out great so far. I would advise companies that clutter their hydra ram bag to simplify it or they could have problems like we did.
Notice how clean the bag and tools are kept in the bag. No high rise fire occur in the area where fireman Dave took his pic. Hints the reason it’s not hard to grab the ram from the bag with all this shit shoved in it. None of it ever gets used.
the bag and equipment are very clean, just how every piece of equipment should be, so its operationally ready. seems like fireman dave has something called “pride” in keeping his “shit” clean, unlike others who are probably at his station. why does there need to be high rises in an area to have a bag like this to force doors? im sure his area has commercial structures, like a school in front of his fire house.