By Sam Hittle
When operating by oneself in the outside vent position, firefighters often employ a common approach when it comes to setting and working the bar on outward doors. When equipped with a set of irons, the firefighter tends to set the adz and then place the handle of the striking tool under their arm and perform what is commonly referred to as the chicken wing. This works well since it allows the firefighter to add rotation into the swing. Unfortunately, body position limits the firefighter’s ability to connect at a 90° angle and limits the distance of the ax head from the axis, affecting the overall impact.
When working with the metals (hook and halligan), the firefighter secures the base of the hook with his or her foot and rotates the shaft into the bar. This technique provides rotation, which is always an objective of the striker when trying to amplify force. However, once again, striking power is limited by the inherent characteristics of the technique. Arc length tends to be tight, making it difficult to generate speed, the hook offers insufficient weight, and wraps on the shaft absorb much of the contact.
If you find yourself against a tough door and having trouble getting the bar set using these traditional techniques, try something less conventional. When working with a set of irons, place the halligan against the door, hold it in place with your body, and drive with the top of the striking tool using two hands. Nothing requires us to use the face of the striking tool. The adz responds to the weight and the speed of the tool combined, not which part it is hit with. When operating with the metals, again hold the bar in place with your body and use two hands to drive with the top of the hook.
This unconventional approach to setting and working the bar is effective because we are able to use our whole core to generate power. Additionally, this requires less coordination than trying to manage two tools; allows us to use both hands, thereby improving accuracy and follow-through force; and ultimately facilitates greater extension when rotating the tool. Mathematically, this is where we see the most influence. By getting the tool further away from our body we increase radial arc when rotating the tool. This directly affects rotational acceleration (i.e. speed), which produces exponential force results. Try it and see the difference for yourself.
- Lone-Firefighter Forcible Entry Using Halligan and Hook
- Training Tip: Forcible Entry in Tight Quarters
- Training Tip: Bar-to-Bar Forcible Entry
- Training Tip: Hinge Reinforcement
SAMUEL HITTLE is a captain with the Wichita (KS) Fire Department. He has an associate degree in fire science. He has been an instructor for FDIC International and Traditions Training. He is a contributing author to Fire Engineering, Urban Firefighter, and FireRescue. He is a Google Hangout panel member, an Interior Attack technical panel member for Underwriters Laboratories, and a member of the FDIC International Educational Advisory Board.
