Any firefighter who has been assigned to force entry in limited visibility conditions understands that it is one of the toughest challenges of all forcible entry tasks. Forcing entry in limited visibility will test any firefighter’s training and knowledge. Forcing entry while subject to limited visibility requires careful coordination, patience and precise communications between the members at the door. A failure in any one of these three things could result in an injury to either member.
As with any forcible entry operation, the correct tools must be selected to be most efficient. Those tools may consist of a true set of “Irons” (an 8 pound flat-head axe and a one piece dropped-forged Halligan tool), a six foot hook, a lock pulling tool (“K” tool, Rex Tool, Morris Tool, etc.), and depending on building type a Hydra-Ram, Rabbit Tool or other hydraulic forcible entry tool may be needed. Some departments also arm their forcible entry team with a 2 ½ gallon water extinguisher. Obviously all firefighters should also be equipped with their full PPE and standard equipment which should include a flashlight, radio, etc…
Note: The Halligan Tool should be modified by squaring of the shoulder behind the fork. This provides a better striking surface for operating in limited/zero visibility conditions. This striking surface is also essential for scenarios involving tight hallways or restricted areas where a full swing is not possible.
Communication
Clear and concise communication between the firefighter holding the Halligan (Irons Firefighter) and the firefighter swinging the axe (Striking Firefighter) is critical. A break-down in communication between these two members can result in a failed forcible entry operation, and can even result in a serious injury to the firefighter holding the Halligan if he is struck by the axe. It is imperative that both firefighters know and understand all of the commands that YOUR DEPARTMENT uses. Commands must be simple, unmistakable, and stated loudly and with purpose. Below is a list of forcible entry commands and the action(s) that should result from each command. While these commands may not be the same as your department, they can be modified to suit your needs.
- “HIT” - Once the Halligan is set, the Irons firefighter can call “HIT”. This command summons the Striking firefighter to swing the tool ONE TIME. Avoid words such as “NOW” or “GO” for this command. These terms can be misunderstood if spoken through a face piece. A mistake in terms at this stage could result in a serious injury if the command is misunderstood. Another option for this command is to use the term “STRIKE”.
- “DRIVE” – When the Irons firefighter has maneuvered the fork around the lip of the door, assuring that the forks are between the door and the jamb, he may give this command. The “DRIVE” command confirms to the Striking firefighter that the Halligan Tool is in good position (horizontal with the door frame) and that the fork must be driven into the optimal position to force the door (crotch of the fork level with the stop). This is the only command that the Striking firefighter has the flexibility to strike the Halligan repeatedly until a “STOP” command is given.
- “STOP” – This command is relatively simple. When the Irons firefighter calls “STOP”, do not swing the axe again! Failure to heed this command could cause a serious injury to the Irons firefighter, or drive the fork past optimal positioning or completely past the door. If the fork is driven too far, the shoulder will pass the inside of the door and the Halligan tool will be pinned in the door. This will render this tool useless and time will be lost trying to secure another tool to force the door. As the Striking firefighter has to take care to listen and react to specific commands, it is equally important for the Irons firefighter to allow time for the Striking firefighter to react. For example, if the Irons firefighter calls “STOP”, he must wait a few seconds before repositioning the Halligan to assure that the Striking firefighter is not in mid-swing when the command was given.
- “GAP HIT” - Alerts the Striking firefighter to reposition to strike the adz or hydraulic forcible entry tool to gain a purchase point between the door and the stop (on an inward swinging door). This “GAP HIT” will allow the Irons firefighter to set the adz so the door can be gapped.
- “SHOULDER HIT” – Alerts the Striking firefighter to reposition so that the axe can be slid down the shaft of the Halligan striking the squared off shoulder behind the fork.
- “CONTROL” – This command alerts the Striking firefighter that the Halligan is SET and the door is ready to be forced. The striking firefighter will stand prepared to control the door with the hook if needed.
All of the commands listed above should remain constant. Whether forcing a door in a drill situation, or at a fire on the floor above in zero or limited visibility. By keeping continuity in the commands, it will promote good habits and smooth forcible entry operations.
Don’t Get Tunnel Vision
In my experience, the most frequent mistake observed in a forcible entry operation is a firefighter falling victim to “tunnel vision”. Some firefighters tend to solely focus on the task at hand and cease to pay attention to fire and smoke conditions. Frequently during a forcible entry operation, fire and smoke conditions must be monitored for changes. It is vitally important that you also monitor the radio for updates and notify command of your progress.
The Technique
When forcing entry in zero/limited visibility you must follow those same steps as when forcing a door in good visibility. The following steps should be followed:
Size Up
Door size-up in zero/limited visibility could be a very complicated procedure. A firefighter will most likely have to rely on the sense of touch and feel and rely less on the sense of sight to size-up the door. Some forcible entry size-up information may be gathered either upon arrival at an incident, or while in-transit to your operation area. Simply asking the questions below may provide you with answers that could assist you with your task.
- What type of building is it? Knowing the building type in which you are operating may provide information regarding the types of doors that you may be called upon to force. Apartment buildings and single family dwellings primarily house inward swinging doors. Consequently, commercial, industrial and public assembly buildings house outward swinging doors due to fire codes and mandates.
- What is the building construction? The construction of a particular building may provide tips on the types of doors that may be encountered. The doors in a balloon-frame, single family dwelling will have vast differences than those encountered in a fire-proof multiple dwelling. Firefighters should know what types of door construction and which way most doors will swing in the various types of building construction. The tools required to force entry into these various building types may vary.
- Which way does the door swing? This is typically one of two answers: Inward or Outward. Identifying the swing of an unknown door in a zero/limited visibility environment is easiest done by feeling it. As a “rule-of-thumb”, if a door is recessed into a wall, and you cannot feel hinges, the door will open away from you (inward). Consequently, if a door is flush to the wall and hinges can be felt, then the door opens towards you (outward).
- What are the primary locking devices? Can you feel any locks on the door? Most primary locks can be identified by either a dead-bolt, rim cylinder, cylinder guard or a key-in-the-knob lock. Any one or all of these can be felt with a gloved hand during your door size-up steps.
- What are the Secondary Locking Devices? Can you feel bolt heads, or screws protruding through the skin of the door? Simply count all locking mechanisms that are felt during your door size-up and systematically attack these locks one at a time starting at the top and working towards the bottom.
- What are fire conditions on the other side of the door? Does the door feel hot to the touch? Is the door discolored or paint peeling? Can you hear the fire behind the door? If the answer to one or all of the previous questions is yes, then door control is paramount. Another option for establishing if there is a fire condition directly on the other side of the door is to shut-off your flashlights. Once the glare from the hand-light is eliminated, a glow from around the frame, especially on the floor may be observed. If there is a fire condition present immediately on the other side of the door, you must be prepared. Control the door, and if needed, wait for a charged attack line before opening the door to the fire area.
Although the steps above take a few minutes to read, they are quickly performed at a fire. The steps outlined above will allow for a quick, yet thorough size-up. Once the size-up is completed, forcible entry operations can commence. From this point, you and your partner will follow the same steps as if you were forcing entry in full visibility. To review, those steps are:
Below we have listed two techniques and a tool variation that may assist you in forcing a door in zero/limited visibility. Although these techniques are usually not required for normal forcible entry operations, they do become useful when forcing doors in zero/limited visibility.
Double Hit Method
As a habit, some firefighters perform this technique at every single forcible entry operation. It simply boils down to preference for some. It is very useful for increasing your accuracy in zero/limited visibility environments.
This method is preformed by lightly tapping the adz with the axe to “sound” where the Halligan is placed. Once again, this should only occur after the “irons” firefighter calls “hit”. Performing hits in this manner serves two purposes:
1) Alerts the “irons” firefighter that the full hit is coming immediately and that the Halligan tool should not be moved.
2) Assists the swinging firefighter to find his/her range which will limit the potential for a miss in poor visibility.
Prior to the forcible entry operation, the use of this technique must be made clear. If the two firefighters are not on the same page, the irons firefighter may move the Halligan while the axe firefighter is in the process of a full-swing. As with any forcible entry technique, this technique must be practiced often and under a realistic environment to remain safe and effective.
Hitting the Shoulder
The Halligan tool must be modified to safely perform this task. The shoulder of the fork must be squared off by either using a hand file or grinder. By modifying the tool, the axe may now be slid down the shaft of the Halligan, striking behind the forks and driving the tool into the door.
This modification will make forcible entry operations in zero/limited visibility more simplistic. When utilizing this procedure, follow all of the normal forcible entry steps until it is time to utilize the Halligan forks in the door jamb. Place the forked-end (bevel/curve towards the door), into the jamb between the door and the jamb. Since a full-swing of an axe in a zero/limited visibility environment could prove to be dangerous, this should not be attempted. Instead, place the head of the axe on the shaft of the Halligan. Slide the axe down the shaft of the Halligan, striking the back of the fork. This will drive the Halligan to the proper SET position, without striking your partner. The firefighter holding the
Halligan should place his/her hands at the back of the halligan by the adz.
This will allow the axe firefighter to perform the most efficient “slide” to hit the squared-off shoulder. Constant inward pressure must be applied to the Halligan so it does not slip out of the door due to the weight of the axe. Constant inward pressure will also prevent the tool from being pushed out of the door when the tool is hit. Once the tool has been SET, the door can be forced as normal.
Hydra Ram or Rabbit Tool
Utilizing the Hydra-Ram or Rabbit Tool to force doors in zero/limited visibility is fairly easy and effective. These two tools certainly have less skill involved and cause some members to become complacent with their conventional forcible entry techniques. It must be noted that if the hydraulic forcible entry tool fails, the firefighters that are assigned to force entry in zero/limited visibility MUST have a plan AND be proficient in the techniques outlined above to defeat the toughest doors. The only way to remain proficient at those techniques is to practice under realistic conditions. The time to learn or practice the above techniques are not when smoke is banked down to the floor and it is discovered that the seal has blown on your hydraulic forcible entry tool
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