Chapter 17

Forcible Entry
 Introduction
2 million homes broken into each year
Owners install a variety of locking devices to
protect both homes and businesses
Forcible entry often one of the first
operations conducted at a scene to gain
entry
Forcible entry is a combination of knowledge
and skill
Must have knowledge of building construction and
locking devices

17.2
Figure 17-1 A typical assortment of forcible entry tools used by
fire departments.

17.3
 Knowledge
Working knowledge of locks,
hardware, doors, and other
assemblies is essential
Must be able to size up the quickest
and easiest way to gain access
Firefighter must know which type of
tool to use and best method to gain
access

17.4
 Skill
Involves a firefighters ability to apply
knowledge of:
Building construction
Lock assemblies
Tools
Techniques
Skills developed by repeated practice

17.5
 Experience
Acquired by three means:
Drills and practice
Scene of actual fires and emergencies
Learning about others experiences
through case studies and reports

17.6
 Forcible Entry Tools
Selection and right use of the right
tool are essential
Right tool is the quickest and easiest
way to complete operation
Many tools have more than one name

17.7
Table 17-1 Forcible Entry Tools

17.8
 Striking Tools
Used to deliver impact to other tools
Used for impact delivery to the lock or
the door itself
May force the door or even break it down
Types of striking tools:
Flathead ax
Maul/sledge
Ram

17.9
Figure 17-3 The group or family of striking tools
includes the maul, small hammer, flathead ax, and
Denver tools.

17.10
Prying and Spreading Tools
Used to spread apart a door, move
objects, or expose locking device
Halligan tool
Claw tool
Kelly tool
Hydraulic spreaders
Miscellaneous prying tools

17.11
Figure 17-7 The group or family of prying tools includes the
Halligan, claw tool, hux bar, Detroit door opener, pry bar, and
hydraulic spreaders.

17.12
 Cutting Tools
Cut away materials and expose
locking device:
Ax
Handsaws
Bolt cutters
Power cutting toolssaws
Carbide-tipped blades and metal cutting
blade
Masonry cutting blades
Chain saws and reciprocating saws
Cutting torch
17.13
Figure 17-10 The group or family of cutting tools includes
axes, saws (both power and manual), and bolt and wire
cutters.

17.14
 Pulling Tools
Hook or pike pole most common
Grouped by type of head and handle
length
Used to:
Open walls and ceilings
Vent windows
Pull up roof boards

17.15
Figure 17-15 The most common type of pulling tool is the
hook or pike pole, available in various styles and lengths.

17.16
 Special Tools
Number of specialized tools available
to assist forcible operations:
Bam bam or dent puller
Duck bill lock breaker
K-tool and lock pullers
Most tools used in combination with
other tools to accomplish a task

17.17
 Safety with Forcible
Entry Tools
If misused or used for wrong task, forcible
entry tools will create safety hazards
General rules apply to all operations
Always wear personal protective equipment
Follow manufacturer guidelines
Do not attempt to cut material for which a tool was
not designed
Tools must be in proper condition
Never use tools alone
Tools should be properly stored and easily
accessible
17.18
Rotary and Chain Saws
Remove security gates, barred
windows, and overhead doors
These saws present a number of
hazards
Firefighters should follow operation
and safety guidelines

17.19
 Carrying Tools
Many tools have sharp or pointed
ends and must be carried safely:
Carry ax with blade away from body
Pointed and sharp end of prying ax
carried away from body
With striking tools, head carried close to
the ground and not swung freely

17.20
 Hand Tools
Constructed of:
Metal
Wood
Fiberglass
Combination of materials
Tools inspected regularly for:
Cracks in the handles
Burrs in the metal
Loose heads

17.21
 Maintenance of Forcible
Entry Tools
General guidelines
Cleaned and inspected on regular basis
Documentation of tool maintenance is
important
Follow manufacturer guidelines for battery-
operated tools
Specific guidelines for:
Metal heads and parts
Fiberglass handles
Wood handles
17.22
Construction and Forcible Entry
Type of construction of many different
features of buildings must be
recognized and understood
Thorough knowledge leads to
successful forcible entry operations

17.23
 Door Construction
Manufactured in many styles
Door assembly:
Door, frame or jamb
Mounting hardware
Locking device mounted in a jamb, which is
rabbeted
Rabbeted jamb milled into the casing that
the door closes against to form a seal
Stopped jamb has molding nailed or
attached to the casing
Can be removed allowing access to lock
assembly

17.24
Figure 17-21 Doors are manufactured in a variety
of styles and materials.

17.25
Figure 17-22 The parts of a door assembly.

17.26
 Types of Doors
Three types of wood doors: panel, flush,
ledge
Metal doors are hollow-core or metal clad
Two main types of glass doors: metal,
tempered
Other types of doors:
Sliding doors
Revolving doors
Overhead doors
Residential and commercial garage doors
Roll-down steel doors and gates
17.27
 Locks
Locks keep unwanted visitors out of a
building
Know types of locks, how they
operate, and how to disable them
Key in the knob lock
Mortise lock
Rim locks
Tubular locks
Padlocks
Special locks
17.28
Figure 17-33 The parts of a lock device.

17.29
Figure 17-36 Rim locks (from left Figure 17-37 Tubular dead bolts.
to right): a dead bolt, a vertical (Courtesy of Master Lock
bolt and striker plate, and a Company, LLC.)
vertical bolt with key cylinder.

17.30
Additional Security Devices
Additional security may be simple or
complex
Simple example: broom handle in track of
sliding door
Complex example: additional locks
Forcible entry team may need to find
alternative means of entry or use
rotary saw
Obtain unwanted locks and use as
training aids
17.31
 (A) (B)

Figure 17-41 These auxiliary locking devices are usually not

detected by the forcible entry team: (A) floor-mounted stop
plate, (B) door blocker

17.32
 (C) (D)
Figure 17-41 (contd.) (C) steel bar and brackets, and (D)
sliding bolt. Note that the bar and sliding bolt are often
homemade devices.

17.33
Methods of Forcible Entry
Three standard methods:
Conventional
Through-the-lock
Power tools
All forcible entry operations must be
coordinated with fire attack and
ventilation
Lack of coordination may result in rapid
fire spread or backdraft

17.34
Conventional Forcible Entry
Old and reliable method
Use of leverage, force, and impact
Primary tools:
Halligan tool
Flathead ax
Accomplish one or more of the
following:
Force door away from jamb
Break lock, striker, door, and/or frame
Force the hinges; breach the wall or door
17.35
Through-the-Lock Forcible
Entry
Involves attacking the locking
mechanism
Remove key cylinder and operate lock
with alternative means
Used when entry needs to be gained
with damage kept to a minimum

17.36
Operating Lock Mechanisms
Manipulate lock by using proper key
tool
Flat steel key
Square key tool
Lock cylinders fall into two categories
Mortise
Rim lock
Correct tool determined by examining
the cylinder
17.37
Figure 17-46 To operate the lock, look at the back of
the cylinder to determine the right key tool to use.

17.38
 Lock Variations
Many locks have a spring-loaded
shutter
Rim lock with night latch can only be
unlocked from inside
Locks such as key in knob and tubular
dead bolts are opened in manner
similar to rim lock

17.39
 Windows
Many types, architectural styles,
sizes, and construction
Windows used as an alternative
means of entry
Four construction features of
windows:
Glazing
Sash
Frame
Security devices
17.40
Figure 17-51 Windows are found in many types, architectural
styles, sizes, and construction.
17.41
Forcible Entry of Windows
Each type of window requires a
special technique to force entry
Two general reasons to force a
window:
Gain entry
Horizontal ventilation

17.42
Figure 17-52 Use a long-handled tool such as a
hook or pike pole to break glass out of a window.

17.43
 Glazing
Most common glazing material is
glass
Different types of glass:
Regular or plate glass
Tempered glass
Laminated glass
Wire glass

17.44
 Types of Windows
Several types of windows:
Double hung/check rail windows
Energy-efficient windows
Casement windows
Awning windows
Jalousie windows
Projected windows
Fixed windows
Bars and gates

17.45
Breaching Walls and Floors
Emergency situations often dictate that walls
of structure must be opened
Two main considerations when breaching
walls:
Type of construction of the building
Wood construction with lath and plaster or
drywall easy to breach
Brick and reinforced concrete require more
effort
Tools available
Ordinary hand tools are usually sufficient
Solid masonry may require specialized tools
17.46
Figure 17-54 The firefighter uses an ax handle or
Halligan tool to poke through a wall to determine if
there are any obstructions on the other side.

17.47
Techniques for Breaching Walls
Different types of walls present new
challenges
Breaching wood-framed walls
Avoid area around doors and corners
Breaching masonry wallsblock or brick
Without power tools only option may be 12-
pound maul
Breaching reinforced concrete walls and floors
Most common tool used is the jackhammer
May need oxyacetylene torch
Breaching metal walls
Location of heavy structural members located
first
17.48
Techniques for Breaching Floors
Cutting wood floors with a power saw
Rotary saw with 12-inch-diameter
carbide-tipped blade
Cutting wood floors with an ax
Locate floor joists and cut along joist
Pull up finish flooring to expose
subflooring
Make all cuts on subfloor first before
pulling up

17.49
Figure 17-56 A rectangle, square, or triangle can be cut,
followed by the removal of the finished flooring and the
subflooring.

17.50
 Tool Assignments
Necessary tools must be carried in
with first on-scene and later arriving
units
Tool assignments based on:
Occupancy and construction of building
Position or task assigned
Department standard operating
procedures (SOPs) or policies

17.51
 Lessons Learned
Forcible entry is a key tactic
Must understand tools, equipment,
and methods
Teamwork is an essential element
Forcible entry must be done quickly
Firefighter must continually size up
buildings

17.52