Review all things forcible entry with these articles from our FireRescue Magazine and FirefighterNation contributors. Today we look at through-the-lock with Homer Robertson.
Day 1: Halligan Modifications
Day 2: Halligan Squaring
Day 3: Door Materials
Day 4: Adz Modification
Day 5: The Force Ax
Day 6: Uncommon Board-Up Features
Day 7: Roll-Down Security Gates, Part I
Day 8: Roll-Down Security Gates, Part II
Day 9: Hydra Ram 101
Day 10: Primer on Through-the-Lock
“Trolling the Internet looking at different fire service websites and YouTube videos, I often come across training on through-the-lock forcible entry.
Instead of using our heavy-duty tools like our irons set with the Halligan and a striking tool like a flathead axe or maul, this technique uses much less force. Normally when we resort to the heavy-duty tools, it’s under emergency conditions, or when we’re faced with a heavily fortified door that requires the big guns to get through. This often causes extensive damage to the door and the doorframe.
The amount of damage we do during forcible entry should be based on a needs assessment of the incident: The faster we need to get in and more heavily fortified the building, the more damage is justified.
The vast majority of incidents we respond too, however, are investigation-type responses, including automatic alarms, odors, food-on-the-stove fires and welfare checks of citizens. During these types of incidents, we may be able to slow down and minimize the amount of damage we have to do to get inside and do our job.
Through-the-lock allows us to reduce damage and still accomplish quick, efficient and safe forcible entry. And with new forcible entry tools hitting the market every year, we have more options than ever before.”
