Iowa Firefighter Training Article Archive

Gap-Set-Force with a Twist

February 2024

Many times, forcible entry drills involve firefighters using a flathead axe and halligan to force a door. This is a basic skill that all firefighters must be proficient at performing. For this month’s forcible entry drill however, I want to share an unconventional forcible entry drill I conducted with my team a few weeks ago. The objective is to get hands-on, practical knowledge about leverage and mechanical advantage. For this hands-on experience, gather a forcible entry door prop, various tools, a deck of cards, and, of course, the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). In preparation, select a diverse range of hand tools from the apparatus. Tools should include not only those commonly associated with forcible entry but also a variety of tools beyond that scope. This drill encourages firefighters to use hand tools creatively in order to apply force and mechanical advantage to successfully force entry.

RULES:

1. Draw a card

2. The suit will determine the type of door

DOOR
♣️ = inward, left swing
♠️ = inward, right swing
♥ = outward, left swing
♦️ = outward, right swing

3. Whether the card is odd or even will determine which parts of the halligan the first firefighter can use.

FIREFIGHTER #1 HALLIGAN
Odd = Adz/Pike only
Even = Forks only

4. The number on the card will determine the tool used by the second firefighter.

*Note: Only use cards assigned to a tool and remove all other cards from the deck. For the example provided, only use cards Ace through 9.

FIREFIGHTER #2 TOOL
A: Halligan (able to use both ends)
2: Flathead axe
3: Wedge
4: NY Hook
5: TNT
6: Hawk versa tool
7: Raptor squad man
8: Crowbar

5. With a partner, you get 60 seconds to force the door

6. If unable to force the door in 60 seconds, both FFs do 20 push ups

This was a fun, quick company level drill that forced participants to think outside the box when given an unconventional pair of tools. For an additional challenge, consider constructing a wall adjacent to the door prop, thus limiting the space available for firefighters to work within. In the accompanying images, you'll observe our use of a pallet to achieve this added difficulty.

Training Objectives

Upon completion the firefighter should be able to….

apply force and mechanical advantage to successfully force a door.

Cole Kleinwolterink is a member of the Waukee Fire Department, Granger Fire Department, and Fire Science instructor at Des Moines Area Community College. Feel free to reach out to him at kleinwolterinkc@gmail.com with any questions, comments or inquiries.