For the better part of 60 years, the irons have been the staple for most of the fire departments in North America when it comes to forcible entry. The irons usually consist of an eight-pound flat-headed axe (also known as a forcible entry axe) and a 30-inch halligan bar
Halligan bar
A Halligan bar is a forcible entry tool used by firefighters and law enforcement.
What is an Irons firefighter responsible for?
He is responsible for forcible entry, typically carrying the irons (flathead axe and halligan) and a six-foot NY hook. On the truck’s approach, depending on which side the fire is on, the irons firefighter is doing his own size-up of the fire building.
What are the parts of a set of irons?
A set of irons consists of a striking tool and a prying tool, married and carried together. The most common set of irons is an eight-pound flathead ax with a 30-inch halligan-type bar. The bar can include the halligan or a halligan-type bar, the San Francisco bar, and the Chicago Patrol bar.
What are the tools used in a fire department?
For the better part of 60 years, the irons have been the staple for most of the fire departments in North America when it comes to forcible entry. The irons usually consist of an eight-pound flat-headed axe (also known as a forcible entry axe) and a 30-inch halligan bar.
What size ax do firefighters use?
How to remove a downed victim from a firefighter?
About this website
Why are irons called irons?
The golf clubs called irons are so-called because their clubheads are made of metal. Of course, "woods" are now also made of metal, but that's a relatively recent development. Irons have featured metal clubheads (steel, these days) for centuries.
What do firemen call their gear?
Bunker gearBunker gear or turnout gear is the term used by many fire departments to refer to the protective clothing worn by firefighters. The name “bunker gear” was derived from the fact that the pants and boots were traditionally kept by the firefighter's bunk at the fire station and ready for use.
What are the 4 types of firefighters?
10 firefighter typesVolunteer firefighter.Inspector.Wildland firefighter.Firefighter engineer.Airport firefighter.Firefighter/EMT.Firefighter/paramedic.Fire investigator.More items...•
What is firefighter equipment?
Firefighting Equipment is the main firefighter equipment used to extinguish fires, including fire fighting hose, portable fire pumps, fire hose reels, fire monitors and fire fighting nozzles.
How heavy is a fireman suit?
The department uniform consists of a fiberglass helmet, Nomex hood, bunker coat and pants, gloves and boots that collectively weigh roughly 30 pounds.
Why is it called turnout gear?
Turnout Gear, also known as Bunker Gear, gets its name from it's history of being stored in the bunk room of fire departments so that is can be easily and readily accessible in case of emergencies.
What is the highest rank in a fire department?
The Fire Chief is the highest ranking position that you can achieve in a fire department. However, in most cities and municipalities, the Fire Chief answers to the city manager or mayor.
What do you call a firefighter?
Alternative titles for this job include Fireman, firewoman.
What is a group of firefighters called?
Fire Crew. An organized group of firefighters under the leadership of a crew leader or other designated official.
What is the end of a fire hose called?
A hose coupling is a type of fitting located on the end of the fire hose, which is typically made of steel, brass, or aluminum. The coupling has threading on each end, one female end and one male end, allowing the hose to connect with another hose, tap, or other water source.
How many types of fire equipment are there?
There are five main types of fire extinguishers: Water, water mist or water spray. Foam. Carbon Dioxide.
What are the two types of fire fighting?
There are two types of fire-fighting equipment: portable (eg fire extinguishers, fire blankets) and fixed systems (eg fire hydrants, sprinkler systems)....Dry powder systems are used to extinguish fires in:solid combustibles.flammable liquids.gases.flammable metals.
What is fireman's outfit?
(a) Each fireman's outfit must consist of one self-contained breathing apparatus, one lifeline with a belt or a suitable harness, one flashlight, one flame safety lamp, one rigid helmet, boots and gloves, protective clothing, and one fire ax.
What kind of clothes do fireman wear?
One of the main clothing material used by both astronauts and firefighters is Nomex. It is fire resistant and shock resistant which is advantageous for a fire fighter.In space suits it gives durability,flexibility and insulation for astronauts.
What uniform do firefighters wear?
The 'gold standard' of modernised personal protective equipment (PPE) reflects the changing role of the modern firefighter. The light colour of the 'Titan 1260 fabric with PBI fibres in the gold colour will show contamination easier than the previous dark blue PPE.
What is firefighter uniform?
These uniforms are extensively used for protection against fire and flames. Product Details: Fire proof fabric. Comfortable to wear. Light in weight.
The Halligan: Quite Possibly the Most Useful Tool on the Fireground
The Halligan: Quite Possibly the Most Useful Tool on the Fireground - FirefighterNation: Fire Rescue - Firefighting News and Community -
10 Uses for a Halligan Tool - Career Trend
Flat End. One flat part of the Halligan is the flat side of the adz, the other is the flat side of the tool. The flat end can be used similar to a hammer, to pound against a door that may not take much give to open, as a tool to remove tempered glass before entry to avoid injury, or even as a step.
How the Halligan tool changed the firefighting game
More than 1,000 courses and videos, including more than 440 hours of approved EMS credit!
Why do firefighters need irons?
The irons are also invaluable for forcing open padlocks and breaking chain links.
What is a set of irons?
A set of irons consists of a striking tool and a prying tool, married and carried together. The most common set of irons is an eight-pound flathead ax with a 30-inch halligan-type bar. The bar can include the halligan or a halligan-type bar, the San Francisco bar, and the Chicago Patrol bar.
What do firefighters need to be effective?
To be effective, we need to train with and learn all the possible applications of the tools we carry on the apparatus. Having a set or, better yet, several sets of irons on the apparatus gives us a combination set of tools that can perform almost 90 percent of the tasks we need to accomplish on the fireground at any one time.
Where should irons be carried?
Once married, the irons should be carried together on the fireground and on the apparatus. They can be mounted in compartments or on the outside of the apparatus. At the Illinois Fire Service Institute, we installed a bracket on the roof of one of our pumpers so the tools could be accessed from the pump walkthrough.
What tools can be put together to make an iron?
If your department doesn`t have the tools listed above, any good striking tool , such as a sledgehammer, and a prying tool, such as a claw tool or pinch bar, can be put together to form a set of irons. The most important factors to keep in mind when putting the set together are force and leverage. Force.
What are the factors to consider when putting together a fire set?
The most important factors to keep in mind when putting the set together are force and leverage. Force. The irons allow a firefighter to deliver striking force with the ax or sledgehammer. The force capabilities of the eight-pound ax are far superior to those of the six-pound ax.
What is the role of leverage in firefighting?
Leverage. Leverage allows the firefighter to pry. Prying can open locked doors, cause windows to slide open without removing glass, or move a heavy object out of the way.
What is an iron fire axe?
The irons usually consist of an eight-pound flat-headed axe (also known as a forcible entry axe) and a 30-inch halligan bar. These two tools can marry together (see photo 1) to be easily carried in one arm. When these two tools are carried together it gives the user the options of prying, cutting and striking.
What are the most common striking tools in the fire service?
Striking tools. The two most common striking tools in the fire service are the sledgehammer and the flat-headed axe.
How to get a firefighter's tools apart?
To get the tools apart, simply hit the butt end of the axe shaft into the floor. The sledgehammer is another favourite striking tool of firefighters. The sledgehammer should be at least eight pounds for effective striking. The biggest problem with the sledgehammer is that it does not marry well with the halligan.
What is a halligan made of?
The halligan should be made from one solid piece of drop forged steel (see photo 2, bottom). Some halligans on the market are made from three separate pieces of steel that are attached by a set screw or tack weld and are susceptible to failure when being hit with the striking tool (photo 2, top).
Does the fire department take forcible entry seriously?
Tool maintenance. One sure sign that a fire department does not take forcible-entry operations seriously is damaged forcible-entry tools. I have seen tools that are rusted, chipped, cracked, broken, and, in some cases, missing.
Can a firefighter use forcible entry?
In the hands of a well-trained firefighter, there is little in the way of forcible entry that cannot be accomplished with these two tools. Here, we look at the irons: specifically, how to choose the appropriate tools, how to make the irons more user friendly and how to maintain your tools.
Too Many Irons in the Fire
If you have the tendency, like me, to take on too many projects at once then you’ll know exactly why imagery of fire brings this saying to mind. “Too many irons in the fire”.
My Chaotic State of Mind
As it relates to my topic of musing for today, I have a tendency to get too many things going at once. And then all of the projects suffer because it’s not possible to allocate enough time to each all of the time. My tasks become jumbled like the piled on irons in the fire.
Slipping through the Cracks
Although I’m still managing to get some writing done, other tasks as slipping. I have a piece of art work due by the end of this week and I’ve yet to start on it. It’s one to accompany the Green Dragon I finished last week. That must be remedied today.
Clearing Out at Least One of the Irons in the Fire
Now that the most demanding iron is nearly out of the fire, I can add some of the other ones back in. And rekindle the flames. This fire of mine is a creative one and each iron is a desire to create. To create an art of the imagination, whether in the form of words in a story or photos arranged as visual art or seed-planting or business-growing.
What is the irons firefighter responsible for?
He is responsible for forcible entry, typically carrying the irons (flathead axe and halligan) and a six-foot NY hook. On the truck’s approach, depending on which side the fire is on, the irons firefighter is doing his own size-up of the fire building. Is it boarded up? Door and window guard systems (DAWGS) and vacant property security systems (VPSS) are heavy metal panels placed over windows and doors for security reasons. Do we have a known occupant and are we thinking VES? The irons firefighter should be formulating a plan based on what he sees. If he sees a house boarded up, then he grabs the saws. Conventional forcible entry, including board ups, is typically the go-to; some boards are secured in a manner that using a chain saw is more efficient and much quicker. If DAWGS or VPSS are on the fire building, the circular saw with a diamond blade is going to be the best option.
What is a hook and can firefighter?
The hook and can firefighter carries a six-foot NY hook married with a halligan and the 2½-gallon pressurized water (PW) can. The can is brought with the crew throughout the entire search to protect the crew from drastic changes in fire conditions. You can set the PW can at the doorway to a room while one firefighter searches the left room and the other searches the right room. Another option is to add a short webbing loop on the can so you can shoulder it and have it with you at all times.
What do truck drivers throw on fire?
Once on scene, the truck driver will throw ground ladders to all sides of the fire building. Ground ladders on buildings three stories or less are going to give firefighters quicker access in most scenarios. The truck driver will carry a halligan with his first ladder.
What is the role of the B seat firefighter in a VES?
The irons firefighter will be the one to climb the ladder placed by the driver, take out the window glass, clear the sash, and make entry. You can use the six-foot hook to hook the window frame and use it as a reference point. If none of the previous apply, the irons firefighter will get a three-sided view exiting the truck and choose the point of entry, commonly the front door. To quickly establish a three-sided view, visualize the side of the house you arrive on, the front, and the opposing side. On approach to any door, the firefighter, regardless of seat assignment, should be doing a size-up of the door. Is it inward or outward swinging? It is a wood door in a wood frame? Is it a metal door in a steel frame? Once the door is forced and entry is made, the B seat and the C seat will perform a primary search. The truck officer may assist with the search, depending on conditions. If the door is forced prior to masking up, perform a quick search of the entryway, including behind the door.
What can a truck company officer do in a fire?
A six-sided scan (four walls, ceiling, floor) will help the truck officer maintain visual contact on members inside the room and can help locate the fire. Most importantly, the officer can direct them to possible victim locations via heat signatures on the TIC. The truck company does this as a crew , putting search and removal of a victim as the utmost priority. Keep in mind, extra help may still be needed should a victim be located. One of the most important things the truck company officer can do on the fireground is trust the crew to get the job done.
What is the driver responsible for in a fire?
He is responsible for all things outside the fire building . The driver will begin a size-up at the time of dispatch. If it is a known area or building in your district, begin to think about where you are going to spot the truck. On arrival, many times the truck will take the front. That’s not always the case, depending on many factors including the size of the fire building, obstacles, trees, power lines, other equipment, setback, scrub zone, and where you want or need the aerial tip. The driver should make that decision on approach. Keep in mind, the fastest spot is not always the best spot. Ideally, the parking brake should be set one time, but if you have to make a quick adjustment, do it early. Keep in mind you have other apparatus coming to the scene, so getting your spot quickly and effectively is going to be best.
Why do fire trucks put up aerials?
The aerial goes up at every fire because it can be used at any time. The time to put the aerial up is not at the moment it’s needed. Once the aerial is up and in place and all other outside duties have been achieved, the driver should consider assisting interior crews. Placing a fan near the front door is also a consideration and can be done at any point after ladders are placed. The fan is not placed in service until interior crews call for it, but it should be near the door and ready.
What size ax do firefighters use?
Every new firefighter should be a master of the “irons.” We use two types, depending on building construction: a residential set, consisting of a flathead ax, preferably an eight-pound, and a 30-inch halligan bar, and a commercial set, consisting of a 10-pound sledgehammer and a 30-inch halligan bar.
How to remove a downed victim from a firefighter?
If one of your fellow firefighters should fall, requiring a quick removal, hook the belly strap on the SCBA between the legs, then slide the halligan bar on the back side of the SCBA straps. Lift and pull the downed firefighter to an area of safe refuge. The same method can be used for civilians; however, you will need a hose strap or webbing to act as the SCBA harness (photo 12).
