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Elevator emergencies have been on the increase as buildings get older and new buildings are built with more elevators. We will discuss various ways of accessing the occupants of a stalled elevator and the proper removal techniques. Removing occupants from a stalled elevator is a...

How many ways can we use a 3 or 4 foot long continuous loop of webbing and a carabineer? The list is too long to count but, here are 4 ways we can utilize it. 1. Lock Cutting   When having to force through a high security padlock the premier tool is the metal cutting K-12...

As limited staffing continues to be a concern for most fire departments, firefighters must do MORE with LESS. Although it is not ideal, a firefighter may be required to force a door by themselves. Whether this task is completed with one or two firefighters, the three primary...

As limited staffing continues to be a concern for most fire departments, firefighters must do MORE with LESS. Although it is not ideal, a firefighter may be required to force a door by themselves. Whether this task is completed with one or two firefighters, three primary...

In a previous article we discussed some of the things the outside vent firefighter must know to complete his job in a professional manner. Today we will take that mindset and put it to work in a couple of different scenarios, but throw a different twist on things. Instead of me...

We’ve discussed the forcible entry bag and my “from scratch” recommendations of what to put in it. Here are some alternative tools and combinations to consider, based on your needs. Other Tool Combinations As stated previously, the S&D Rex is not the only...

We’ve talked about 3 tools for the forcible entry bag so far: a lock-puller, a striking tool, and key tools. Here are 6 more. #4 – Pliers A 10-12” pair of vise-grips (locking pliers) or channel-locks (tongue-and-groove pliers) is useful for spinning out the cylinder on...

Having a forcible entry bag on each rig makes it possible for one firefighter to easily carry all the tools (including the irons) necessary to open nearly every common type of door and lock in his or her district. Let’s dive in and talk about tools. Disclaimer Allow me to say at...

Compared to most, my department was fairly well equipped with forcible entry tools when I hired on 14 years ago. Of course, almost every single fire department in the country carries the irons these days, but my department also carried lock-pulling K-Tools and Truckman’s Tools on...

Part 1 described what an outside vent firefighter is and the tools required for performing ventilation. Now let’s move onto what we need to look out for.  Size Up A proper size up is an important role that all members of a company should conduct on arrival. For the outside vent...