Chapter 9: Forcible Entry Flashcards
- Forcible entry
refers to the techniques used to gain access into a compartment, structure, facility, or site when the normal means of entry is locked or blocked
Forcible entry techniques
do minimal damage to the structure or structural components and provide quick access to the emergency
The Incident Commander (IC) or your supervisor will determine where to force entry based upon the following factors:
o Tactics that must be fulfilled
o Location of the fire or hazard
o Stage of the fire
o Effect on ventilation
o Effort required to force entry
Forcible entry tools can be divided into four basic categories:
o Cutting tools
o Pushing/pulling tools
o Prying tools
o Striking tools
- Axes
are the most common types of cutting tools used by firefighters
- Smaller axes and hatchets may be used in salvage and overhaul operations, but they are usually too lightweight and inefficient for effective use in forcible entry operations
Cutting Tools
- Cutting tools can be powered manually or with another power source
- The two basic types of axes are
the pick-head axe and the flat-head axe
Pick-head axes
axe is a versatile forcible entry tool that can be used for cutting, prying, and digging
o 6-pound or an 8-pound head
The pick-head axe is very effective for chopping through:
o Wooden structural components
o Shingles
o Aluminum siding
o Other roof coverings
o Other natural and lightweight materials
The flat-head axe
is the same as the pick-head axe in size, design, and construction, except that a flat striking face replaces the pick end
Metal cutting devices
are used to cut through heavy-duty locks, metal-clad doors, window security bars and grilles, and similar items
types of metal cutting devices
o Bolt cutters
o Cutting torches
o Manual or powered rebar cutters
- Bolt Cutters. Bolt cutters are used to cut:
o Bolts
o Iron bars
o Pins
o Cables
o Chains
o Hasps
o Some padlock shackles
- Do not use bolt cutters to cut
case-hardened materials found in locks and other security devices
to cut any energized cables unless the cutters are insulated and designed for that task
- A cutting torch may be used to cut:
o Security bars
o Gates
o Grilles
o Hinges
o Rebar
- Firefighters commonly use what type of cutting torches
o Oxyacetylene cutting torches
o Oxy-gasoline cutting torches
o Burning bars
o Plasma cutters
what something that must be done when cutting with a cutting torch
- A charged hoseline must be in place during the cutting operation to cool the metal and control any sparks that are generated
- Rebar cutters
hydraulic cutting tools
o are available in both powered and manual versions
o Firefighters can use rebar cutters to cut steel reinforced bars (rebar) in concrete walls or to cut door or window security bars
Handsaws
o Hacksaw
o Drywall saw
o Keyhole saw
- Power saws commonly used in the fire service include
o Circular saw
o Rotary saw
o Reciprocating saw
o Chain saw
Circular saw
This saw is especially useful in situations where electrical power is readily available, and heavier and bulkier power saws are too difficult to handle
- Rotary saws
used in the fire service are usually gasoline powered with changeable blades available for cutting wood, metal, and masonry.
o When using a rotary saw to cut metal, have a charged hoseline or portable fire extinguisher nearby because of the sparks produced in the cutting operation
The reciprocating saw
This saw has a short straight blade that moves in and out with an action similar to that of a handsaw
o is very powerful, versatile, and easy to control
- Chain saws
are commonly used for forcible entry, ventilation, rescue, and overhaul operations
o They can be powered by gasoline engines, electricity, compressed ait, or hydraulic power
- Cutting chains come in a variety of types for use in cutting building materials such as:
o Wood
o Concrete
o Stone
o Brick
- Prying tools are useful for:
o Opening doors
o Opening windows
o Opening locks
o Moving heavy objects
prybar Force applied to the tool’s handle is multiplied at the working end based upon
the distance between the fulcrum and the working end
how do pryers work
- Pry bars and other manually operated prying tools use the principle of the lever and fulcrum to provide mechanical advantage
- The most common manual prying tools used in the fire service are as follows:
o Crowbar
o Halligan tool
o Pry (pinch) bar
o Hux bar
o Claw tool
o Pry axe
o Rambar
o Kelly tool
o Flat bar (nail puller)
Hydraulic prying tools
receive their power from hydraulic fluid pumped through special high-pressure hoses
o The pumping mechanism can be either powered or manual
- electric motors or two- or four-cycle gasoline engines are much more common than compressed air
Rescue tools
Hydraulic spreaders and hydraulic rams usually associated with vehicle extrication have some uses in forcible entry
o Hydraulic spreaders can exert force either to spread something apart or to pull heavy objects
Hydraulic door opener
This opener is manually operated, relatively lightweight and consists of a hand pump and spreader device
o The spreader has intermeshed teeth that can be easily slipped into a narrow opening such as between a door and doorframe
o A few pumps of the handle cause the jaws of the spreader device to open, exerting pressure on the object to be moved
Pushing and pulling tools have limited use in forcible entry
- This category of tools includes the following
o Clemens hook
o Pike pole
o Plaster hook
o Drywall hook
o San Francisco hook
o Multipurpose hook
o Roofman’s hook
o Rubbish hook
o New York Roof Hook
- A striking tool
is a very basic hand tool consisting of a weighted head attached to a handle
- The following are examples of common striking tools:
o Sledge hammer (8, 10, and 16 pounds)
o Maul
o Battering ram
o Pick
o Flat-head axe
o Mallet
o Hammer
o Punch
o Chisel
The battering ram
is used to make openings in walls and force doors
- The battering ram weighs 30 to 40 pounds (15 to 20 kg) and is made of steel with installed handles and hand guards
To prevent these injuries you must:
o Wear appropriate PPE; additional PPE may be required depending upon the incident.
o Use only undamaged tools.
o Select the right tool for the type of opening to be made.
o Use tools for their intended purpose only.
o Position yourself so that your weight is balanced on both feet.
o Ensure that you have room to operate the tool properly.
o Be aware that there will be a sudden release of energy when the door, window, or wall is opened.
o Ensure that other personnel are out of the immediate area.
o Be aware of the environment to prevent possible gas or vapor ignitions
- To prevent injury, use extreme care with rotary saws, power saws, and chain saws as follows:
o Match the saw and saw blades to the task and material to be cut.
o Never force a saw beyond its design limitations.
o Always wear full PPE, including gloves, hearing protection, and eye protection
o Fully inspect the saw before and after use.
o Do not use any power saw when working in a flammable atmosphere or near flammable liquids.
o Maintain situational awareness.
o Keep unprotected and nonessential people out of the work area.
o Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper saw operation.
o Keep blades and chains sharpened. A dull saw is more likely to cause an accident than a sharp one.
o Be aware of hidden hazards such as electrical wires, gas lines, and water lines.
o Remember that the rotating blade on a rotary saw continues to spin after the throttle has been released.
o Use only blades that are manufacturer approved for your saw; blades from different manufacturers may not be interchangeable.
o When making cuts, account for the twisting (gyroscopic or torsion effect) of a rotary saw blade in order to maintain control of the saw.
o Start all cuts at full revolutions per minute (rpm) to prevent the blades from binding into the material.
o Store blades in a clean, dry environment.
where to store composite blades
compartments where gasoline fumes will not accumulate because hydrocarbons can attack the bonding material in these blades causing them to deteriorate and violently shatter during use
how to carry axe
- If not in a scabbard, carry the axe with the blade away from the body
o With pick-head axes, grasp the pick with a hand to cover it
o Never carry an axe on the shoulder
how to carry prying tools
Carry these tools with any pointed or sharp edges away from the body
o This can be difficult when carrying tools with multiple cutting or prying surfaces such as a bit on one end and an adz on the other
how to carry pike poles and hooks
Carry these tools with the tool head down, close to the ground, and ahead of the body when outside a structure.
o When entering a building, carefully reposition the tool and carry it with the head upright close to the body to facilitate prompt use.
o These tools are especially dangerous because they are somewhat unwieldy and can severely injure anyone accidentally jabbed with the working end of the tool.
how to carry striking tools
Keep the heads of these tools close to the ground.
o Maintain a firm grip.
o Mauls and sledge-hammers are heavy and may slip from your grasp.
how to carry power tools
Never carry a power tool that is operating more than 10 feet (3 m); running power tools are potentially lethal weapons
o Transport the tool to the area where the work will be performed and start it there.
o Carry the saw with the blade forward and toward the ground.
o To prevent fuel from leaking, ensure that the gas cap is tight and the gasket is in place
- Care and maintenance of wooden handles includes:
o Inspecting the handle for cracks, blisters, or splinters
o Sanding the handle if necessary to eliminate splinters.
o Washing the handle with mild detergent, rinsing, and wiping dry. Do not soak the handle in water because it will cause the wood to swell.
o Applying a coat of boiled linseed oil to the handle to preserve it and prevent roughness and warping. Do not paint or varnish the handle.
o Checking the tightness of the tool head.
o Limiting the amount of surface area used for tool marking. Unit designations can be applied on strips of tape or self-adhesive barcodes on the handle.
what do you apply to wooden handles after cleaned and dried
After applying linseed oil, use detergent and water to hand wash the oil-coated rags used to clean wooden handles
- Fiberglass handles are easier to maintain than wood handles. Care includes:
o Washing the handle with mild detergent, rinsing, and wiping dry
o Checking for damage or cracks
o Checking the tightness of the tool head
- Cutting edges on axes require the following care and maintenance:
o Inspecting the cutting edge for chips, cracks, or spurs (Figure 9.19).
o Replacing axe head when required.
o Filing the cutting edges by hand; grinding weakens the tool.
o Sharpening the blade as specified in departmental SOPs
- If the blade is extremely sharp and ground too thin
- If the blade is too thick
- If the blade is extremely sharp and ground too thin, pieces of the blade may break when cutting gravel roofs or striking nails and/or screws in doors, walls, roof decking, or flooring
- If the blade is too thick, regardless of its sharpness, it is difficult to drive the axe head through ordinary objects
Unprotected metal surfaces are the blades, wedges, pikes, handles, and other tool components that have not been electroplated to protect them from corrosion. Instructions for care are as follows:
o Use an emery cloth or steel wool to remove dirt and rust (Figure 9.20).
o Use a metal file to remove burrs from the cutting edge and body.
o Do not make the blade edge too sharp; this may cause the blade to chip or break.
o Do not use a mechanical grinder to sharpen the blade edge because it may cause a loss of temper through overheating
o Oil the metal surface lightly. Light machine oil works best. Avoid using any metal protectant that contains
o 1-1-1-trichloroethane. This chemical may damage and weaken the handle.
o Do not apply oil to the striking surface of tools.
o Do not paint metal surfaces - paint hides defects.
o Inspect the metal for chips, cracks, burrs, or sharp edges, and file them off when found
- Consider the following ways to reduce the amount of damage that will result from forcible entry:
o Begin the decision-making process with the minimum amount of damage and proceed to the maximum amount.
o Determine the severity of the emergency and the speed with which entry must be gained
o Try to open the door in the normal fashion. If that does not work, look for a lock box. A lock box may contain a key or means of opening the door.
o Look for a door window or side light panel that you can break to provide access to the lock on the interior.
forced entery-Determine if it is quicker to:
o Force the lock.
o Remove hinge pins.
o Force the door.
o Pry the door from the jamb
- Fences can be made of:
o Wood
o Masonry
o Chain-link
o Plastic
o Barbed wire
o Wire fabric
o Ornamental metal
- Fencing material that is stretched tight can recoil when it is cut, inflicting injuries to firefighters considerations
o Stand beside the fence post and cut the wire where it joins the post
o When it is cut, it will recoil in the direction of the next post
o Cut wire fences near posts to facilitate repair after the incident
