4. Vehicles Railway passenger cars
Aircraft Ships
Forcible entry can be applied to other
situations and always requires effective
size-up and situational awareness.
11–3
CourtesyofRichMahaney
5. The supervisor or IC must weigh several
factors to determine entry point.
11–4
6. Try before you pry
Firefighters should never force entry
without order to do so.
11–5
18. The easiest way to breach modern
dead bolts in a wood residential door is
to force the door itself.
11–17
CourtesyofRichMahaney
19. Night latch Dead bolt Vertical dead bolt
Rim locks are mounted on the interior
door surface and are used to supplement
doors with or without locks.
11–18
27. Manual or
other power
source
Specific to
material they
cut and how
quickly
No tool cuts
all material
safely and
efficiently
Inappropriate
use can
damage tool,
endanger
operator
Follow these general considerations
when using cutting tools.
11–26
28. Pick-head Flat-head
Axes are the most common type of
cutting tool in firefighting and have a
wide variety of uses.
11–27
29. Metal cutting devices are used to cut
through several types of obstacles in a
variety of ways.
11–28
Bolt cutters Cutting torches
Rebar cutters Hand saws
30. Power saws can be powered in a
number of ways and must always be
used safely.
11–29
Always wear eye,
hearing, and hand
protection
Misuse leads to
property damage and
injury
Never use in
flammable
atmosphere; sparks
can cause fire,
explosion
31. CAUTION!
• Wear eye, hearing, and hand
protection when operating any power
saw.
• Never force a power saw beyond its
design limits. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Do not use a power saw in a
flammable atmosphere.
11–30
33. Rotary saws have interchangeable
blades that can produce sparks when
used on certain surfaces.
11–32
For wood, metal, or
masonry
Large tooth/fine tooth
Carbide-tipped teeth
34. CAUTION!
Sparks from cutting operations can
cause additional fires. Have a charged
hoseline or portable fire extinguisher
close at hand during cutting.
11–33
35. WARNING!
Never use a rotary saw to cut the shell
of any storage tank that might contain
flammable vapors.
11–34
36. CAUTION!
The blade guards on some rotary saws
are not designed for use with carbide-
tipped blades. Be sure that the saw is
designed for the blades used.
11–35
38. Prying tools help open doors, windows,
locks, and move heavy objects by
providing mechanical advantage.
11–37
39. Manual prying tools are usually
constructed from a single-piece of high-
carbon steel 30-36 inches (762-900 mm).
11–38
One end
has hook,
pike tip, adz
Other end
beveled into
wedge, fork
40. - Smaller
- Lighter
- Easier to carry
- Labor
intensive
- Operate slowly
Hydraulic prying tools come in different
forms; manual hydraulic tools have
specific benefits and drawbacks.
11–39
Manually powered
41. Recuse Tools
• Spreaders and rams
Door opener
Rescue tools and hydraulic door
openers can be used effectively for
forcible entry.
11–40
42. Pushing/pulling tools have limited uses
for forcible entry, but can break glass
and open walls or ceilings.
11–41
43. Striking tools are basic hand tools with
a weighted head attached to a handle.
11–42
Sledgehammer Battering ram
44. Irons
• Flat-head
axe with
Halligan tool
Forcible entry tools must be used in
combination because no single tool can
handle every situation.
11–43
46. Wear full
PPE
Use
undamaged
tools
Right tool
for the right
opening
Keep in mind the following safety
guidelines when working with forcible
entry tools.
11–45
Use tool only
for intended
purpose
Weight
balanced on
both feet
Ensure
enough room
to operate
tool
(Cont.)
47. Sudden
release of
energy when
opened
Ensure other
personnel out
of area
Be aware of
environment
Keep in mind the following safety
guidelines when working with forcible
entry tools.
11–46
Manufacturer’s
guidelines,
department
SOPs
Keep tools in
designated
place
Ensure
secured in
brackets
(Cont.)
48. Repair or
replace
damaged tools
immediately
Prying tools
used
incorrectly
create hazards
Keep in mind the following safety
guidelines when working with forcible
entry tools.
11–47
Use larger
tool if job
calls for it
Don’t use
prying tool as
striking tool
49. Match saw/saw blade to task and material
Do not force saw beyond its design limits
Wear full PPE
Fully inspect saw before and after use
Do not use saw around flammable material
Maintain situational awareness
Use extreme care when operating
rotary, power, and chain saws to
prevent injury.
11–48
(Cont.)
50. Keep unprotected/nonessential people away
Follow manufactures guidelines
Keep blade and chains sharpened
Be aware of hidden hazards
Remember blades continue to spin
Use extreme care when operating
rotary, power, and chain saws to
prevent injury.
11–49
(Cont.)
51. Use only approved blades on saw
Be aware of twisting caused by spinning blade
Start cuts at full rpm to prevent binding
Store blade in clean, dry environment
Keep composite blade away from gasoline fumes
Use extreme care when operating
rotary, power, and chain saws to
prevent injury.
11–50
52. REVIEW QUESTION
What are some basic tool safety tips
firefighters should follow during
forcible entry operations?
11–51
58. Explain the ways to force entry
through various types of doors.
Learning Objective 5
11–57
59. Identify considerations that need to
be taken when forcing entry through
locks, padlocks, overhead doors, and
fire doors.
Learning Objective 6
11–58
60. 1. Try opening
door first
2. If door must
be forced,
determine
quickest
method
3. Damage is
justified by
severity of
emergency
4. Rapid-entry
lockbox may
be available
Begin forced entry through a door
only after size up and with minimum
damage.
11–59
62. Look for the placement of the hinges
when forcing swing doors.
11–61
Direction
of Entry
Hinge on inside
Hinge on outside
Inward-swinging Outward-swinging
66. K-tool A-tool
J-tool Shove knife
Through-the-lock entry requires good
size-up of the door and lock, and can
be accomplished with several tools.
11–65
67. Forcing padlocks can be accomplished
using several methods and tools.
11–66
Duck-billed lock
breaker
Bam-bam tool
Rotary saw or torch
•Can be very dangerous
68. Use a rotary saw to force entry on an
overhead door.
11–67
69. WARNING!
All overhead doors should be blocked in
the up or open position to prevent
injury to firefighters if the built-in
control device fails.
11–68
70. Fire doors are usually found inside the
structure and should be blocked open
after forcible entry as a precaution.
11–69
Closed doors
can cut off
hoselines
76. Glass
shards are
dangerous
Wire glass
is difficult
to break
Several
layers of
glass are
expensive
Breaking window glass is a common
entry method, but several factors
must be considered.
11–75
77. Forcing entry by breaking fixed
windows should be done only as a last
resort.
11–76
87. Breaching walls requires meeting
certain criteria before attempting.
11–86
Requires…
Accurate
size-up of
situation
Determination if
wall is safe and
accomplishes
purpose
Knowledge
of building
construction
90. Interior walls also conceal utilities and
can be either load-bearing or non-load-
bearing.
11–89
Unique
types of
interior
wall
Plaster or
gypsum
partition
Reinforced
gypsum
91. REVIEW QUESTION
How do forcible entry operations for
exterior walls compare to those for
interior walls?
11–90
94. A variety of cutting tools are used
to breach wooden floors.
11–93
95. Breaching concrete floors presents
more difficulties and requires
different cutting tools.
11–94
Using jackhammers
or “stitch drilling” can
open floors rapidly
96. REVIEW QUESTION
What does the feasibility of opening
a floor during a fire fighting
operation depend on?
11–95
99. Bolt cutters Rotary saw
Wire and other types of fences can
be forced with cutting tools.
11–98
100. CAUTION
• Wire will recoil in the direction of the
next post on the fence when it is cut.
• Cutting electrified fences before
deenergizing the fence may result in
electric shock.
11–99
101. Going over some types of fences may be
easier than going through them.
11–100
102. Security gates may have lock boxes,
electronic locks, padlocks, or they may
be monitored by staff.
11–101
104. • When normal means of entry is locked
or blocked, forcible entry techniques
are used to gain access into a structure
or area.
• Forcible entry efforts can do minimal
damage to a structure or structural
components and provide quick access.
Summary
11–103
(Cont.)
105. • Tools and techniques are used to
breach walls and floors to advance
hoselines, apply extinguishing agents,
access trapped victims, or ventilate an
area.
Summary
11–104
106. Clean, inspect, and maintain hand
tools and equipment.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-1.
Learning Objective 12
11–105
107. Clean, inspect, and maintain power
tools and equipment.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-2.
Learning Objective 13
11–106
108. Force entry through an inward-
swinging door – Two-firefighter
method.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-3.
Learning Objective 14
11–107
109. Force entry through an inward-
swinging door – Cutting the lock out
of the door method.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-4.
Learning Objective 15
11–108
110. Force entry through an outward-
swinging door – Removing hinge-pins
method.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-5.
Learning Objective 16
11–109
111. Force entry though an outward-
swinging door – Wedge-end method.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-6.
Learning Objective 17
11–110
112. Force entry using the through-the-lock
method.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-7.
Learning Objective 18
11–111
113. Force entry using the through-the-lock
method using the K-tool.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-8.
Learning Objective 19
11–112
114. Force entry using the through-the-lock
method using the A-tool.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-9.
Learning Objective 20
11–113
115. Force entry through padlocks.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-10.
Learning Objective 21
11–114
116. Use a bam-bam tool.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-11.
Learning Objective 22
11–115
117. Cut a padlock with a rotary saw.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-12.
Learning Objective 23
11–116
118. Force entry through a window (glass
pane).
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-13.
Learning Objective 24
11–117
119. Force entry through a double-hung
window.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-14.
Learning Objective 25
11–118
120. Force a Lexan® window using a rotary
saw.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-15.
Learning Objective 26
11–119
121. Force entry through a wood-framed
wall (Type V construction) with hand
tools.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-16.
Learning Objective 27
11–120
122. Force entry through a wood wall
(Type V construction) with a rotary
saw or chain saw.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-17.
Learning Objective 28
11–121
123. Breach a wall using a battering ram.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-18.
Learning Objective 29
11–122
124. Force entry through a masonry wall
with hand tools.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-19.
Learning Objective 30
11–123
125. Force entry through a metal wall with
power tools.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-20.
Learning Objective 31
11–124
126. Breach a hardwood floor.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-21.
Learning Objective 32
11–125
127. Bridge a fence with a ladder.
This objective is measured in Skill
Sheet 11-I-22.
Learning Objective 33
11–126
