Fire Service Hand Tools and Their Use

1. Fire Service Hand Tools and Their Use

2. Cutting Tools

3. Pick Head Axe 6 pound and 8 pound varieties Primarily a cutting tool Proper use takes lots of practice Pick can be used to start a hole 8 pound version is much more efficient

4. Pick Head Axe Special Uses Remove moldings, baseboard and trim during overhaul Break glass Search Limitations Limited use tool Primary function is to cut 6 pound version is too light and inefficient Cannot be used as a striking tool

5. Bolt Cutters Used to cut chain, padlocks, shackles, and fencing Long handled versions provide better leverage Not suitable on case hardened or high security locks

6. Cutting/Striking Tools

7. Flat Head Axe 6 pound and 8 pound models 8 pound version is much more efficient Ability to strike another tool or an object is advantageous

8. Flat Head Axe Special Uses Used to drive halligan or similar tool to force entry One half of �the irons�, the most widely used set of tools in the fire service Can be used to breach walls Opening floors and walls for overhaul Limitations Primary function is to cut, striking is secondary 6 pound version is not effective to cut or strike

9. Prying Tools �Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum strong enough, and single-handedly I can move the world.� -Archimedes

10. Pry Bar Range in size from 3 feet to 5 � feet Can have a pinch bar or a wedge-point bar Pinch bar (top) has a sloping chisel like bevel Wedge point (bottom) has a bevel on both sides Used mostly for moving heavy objects during collapse rescue, heavy rescue, or industrial situations

11. Pry Bar Special Uses Securing master stream devices when deployed for ground use Securing ground ladders to windows. Place bar inside window and tie back to ladder rung. Repacking large diameter hose Limitations Limited use Best used in pairs Heavy, long in length

12. Claw Tool Conventional forcible entry uses Hook can be used to break padlocks Steel lug is used as striking surface

13. Claw Tool Special Uses Can be used as a mill tool to open heavy timber flooring or roofs Limitations Long, heavy, and sharp on both ends Striking surface is small and limited Not as efficient as a halligan bar

14. Detroit Door Opener Lever system capable of delivering tremendous force Replaced by hydraulic tools and pry bars

15. Detroit Door Opener Limitations Heavy, clumsy, and hard to carry May not work against high security locks Won�t work well on steel doors in steel frames Requires a lot of practice to master Using it in dark or smoke-filled areas is dangerous Difficult to maintain control of door

16. Mill Tool Used to pry up heavy timber floors in mill buildings Can also be used to break padlocks, but has no striking surface Extremely limited use

17. Mill Tools Size comparison for claw tool, mill tool, and standard halligan bar

18. Utility Bar Standard forcible entry uses Not as efficient as a halligan bar Difficult to use in door jamb due to thickness of adze

19. Kelly Tool Conventional forcible entry uses More efficient than a pry bar or claw tool Largely replaced by the halligan bar, which has a similar but superior design

20. Halligan Bar Developed by Deputy Chief Hugh Halligan of FDNY in the 1940�s Mainstay forcible entry tool, the other half of �the irons� Range in length from 20-42 inches, with 30 inches being the best for daily use Has a fork end, an adze, and a pick

21. Halligan Bar Special uses Adze end can cut bolt heads Pick end can break padlocks, lift manhole covers Fork end can cut metal, break padlocks Self-defense Self-rescue Limitations There are few, if any, limitations to a true halligan bar

22. Striking Tools

23. Sledgehammer Can be used to drive another tool Breaching masonry Breaking down doors Limited use tool

24. Poles and Hooks

25. National Pike Pole & NY Pike Pole Used to open ceilings and walls during overhaul Breaking glass for horizontal ventilation Pushing down ceilings during vertical ventilation Hook will not grab large amounts of material and must be driven in deeply to grab material

26. San Francisco Pike Pole Chisel point can remove trim, baseboards, moldings, etc. Broad pulling hook and serrated teeth are effective on sheetrock Can be effective on thermal pane glass Needs to be sharpened regularly

27. Multipurpose Hook Another Hugh Halligan creation Extremely versatile Opening ceilings and walls Pulling debris Opening trim, baseboards, etc. Sharpened points can be used for cutting Top hook can pry

28. Roofman�s Hook Similar to a multipurpose hook, but has a steel shaft increasing it�s ability to pry Has a pry end that can be useful in opening roof scuttles, skylights, bulkhead doors, light locks and hasps, and baseboards and trim Limited in length to 6 feet Extremely versatile tool

29. Drywall Hook Makes short work of drywall Cutting edge can be used to cut off larges sections Broad pulling surface allows large amounts of material to be pulled down Can be used to rake debris during overhaul

30. Ekert Hook (EK Hook) Designed to cut open metal ductwork, tin ceilings, and sheet metal Cutting edge is very sharp Limited use tool Not useful for overhaul

31. Boston Rake Designed to pull plaster and lath Can open baseboards, trim, break thermal pane glass Can also open tin ceilings Doesn�t work well in sheetrock Limited ability to grab materials

32. L.A. Trash Hook (Arson-Trash Hook) Used to rake trash and debris Sharp tines will break glass Can open large areas of walls and ceilings during overhaul Good for fire investigation Excellent for roof work Good multipurpose tool, often overlooked

33. Gator-Back Hook Can be used to pull like a standard hook, or cut using the serrated teeth Limited usefulness Teeth often snag on materials Has the same limitations as a national hook Overall, not a good tool

34. Universal Hook Early version of the drywall hook Looks similar, but pulling surface is much smaller, usually 1 inch in width Not as effective as a standard drywall hook

35. Chimney Hook Used to clean out chimneys during chimney fires Limited use tool Difficult to work with when compared to chains, chimney weights, etc.

36. Double-headed Poles Poles with heads on both ends may look neat, but they are dangerous to carry and use Stick with a tool that has a head at one end and a knob, gas shutoff, or D-handle

37. Closet Hook Characterized by short handle, 2 � - 4 feet Can have any of the heads previously described Serve little function on the fireground Require you to work with your arms over your head to pull ceilings, extremely tiresome A six foot hook can get into any place you can Stay away from this tool

38. Handles on Hooks

39. Personal Tools

40. Personal Tools Downsized versions of standard tools Multipurpose design For use by officers or crews stretching hand lines Many varieties

41. Several-In-One Tools

42. TNT Tool (Denver Tool) Four tools in one: sledge, axe, pike pole, and pry bar Used to vent, pull ceilings, force entry, and overhaul Varying lengths and weights Sharp at both ends Too short for hook work Ineffective for prying

43. Pry Axe Multipurpose forcible entry and search tool Cutting, prying, utility shut-off, forcible entry, glass removal Expandable handle Limited leverage and cutting capabilities

44. Hux Bar A modified hydrant wrench Very limited fireground usefulness Not strong enough to pry solid objects Can bend when opening tough hydrants Stay away from this tool, it will not help you

45. Special-Purpose Tools

46. Bam-Bam Tool Similar to an automotive dent puller Used to pull lock cylinders Can be used to open older car doors and trunks Limited use tool, and many locks are strong enough to defeat it Requires a lot of practice to be proficient

47. Hockey Puck Lock Breaker Used to break high security padlocks 36 or 48� pipe wrench Limited use Could be used as an emergency hydrant wrench

48. A Tool Not a separate tool, part of a personal tool or halligan, etc. �A� shape cut out of adze For pulling lock cylinders, similar to K-tool operation

49. J Tool For opening doors equipped with panic hardware Can be purchased or manufactured No other known uses

50. K-Tool & Key Tools Designed to pull lock cylinders for through-the-lock forcible entry Very limited use tool, many locks will not fit into it Efficient use requires practice

51. Duck Billed Lock Breaker Used to break common padlocks Very limited use Can be used to break windows covered with wire mesh Tool�s uses can be accomplished with a halligan

52. Hydraulic Door Opener (Rabbit Tool) Extremely versatile forcible entry tool Uses hydraulic force to spread door apart and break lock/jam One and two firefighter versions Very useful in hotels, apartment buildings, multi-families with numerous units and doors. Can also open elevators Only works on inward swing doors

53. Roof Cutter Can opener on a handle Used to cut sheet metal and tin Requires practice Not very efficient Stay away from this tool

54. Shove Knives Used to manipulate standard door latches and key-in-knob locks Can be purchased or manufactured Credit cards and hotel cards are also effective

55. Vice Grips and Chain/Cable Maintains control of door during conventional forcible entry Cutting padlocks with power saws- keeps lock under control and improves safety

56. Battering Ram The original forcible entry tool, dates back to biblical times Used to batter down doors Can be used to breach walls Takes practice and teamwork Modern hydraulic tools have made this tool almost obsolete

57. Elevator Keys Used to open elevator doors without causing damage Many different styles of lock Communities may only use one key

58. Tool Combinations

59. The Irons Flathead axe married with a halligan bar Preferably an 8 pound axe and a 30� halligan The mainstay of every engine and ladder company All forms of forcible entry, breaching walls, ventilation, overhaul, search, utility control, salvage, and forcible exit Nearly all firefighting operations can be completed with a set of irons

60. Lock-Breaking Combinations Lock breaking tools described previously should be stored with a companion striking tool Duck-billed lock breaker and 8 pound sledgehammer Claw tool and sledgehammer Remember that the irons may already be in use elsewhere due to their versatility

61. Roof Work Roof work may include ventilation, checking the building and exposures for extension, and searching from the top down A variety of tools will be needed Tools to bring to the roof include: A cutting tool (axe, maul) A 12 ft push/pull tool (pike pole, multipurpose hook, trash hook) A prying tool (halligan, claw tool)

62. References Tools of the Trade, by Richard A. Fritz, published by Fire Engineering Fire Officers Handbook of Tactics, by John Norman, published by Fire Engineering Essentials of Fire Fighting, 4th Edition, published by Fire Protection Publications