In the City of Wichita, Kansas, downtown companies were dispatched for reports of a building fire. Arriving on scene, the initial size-up revealed a single story, flat roof, Type 3 construction (noncombustible exterior walls and combustible interior walls, floors and roof) commercial occupancy with light smoke showing throughout. (1) The Alpha side’s customer storefront entrance was for a jewelry store. Firefighters’ access to the Bravo and Delta sides for the initial 360° was impeded by perimeter security fencing.
- Making Entry with Through-The-Lock Pliers
- Don’t Break the Glass: Storefront Through-the-Lock Training
- Throw Back to Basics: Commercial Lock Forcible Entry
- The Other Forcible Entry: Through-the-Lock Training
General Impression
Due to minimum staffing of our truck company—two firefighters and an officer—members had to prioritize tasks on the fireground. My initial task on this alarm was to gain entry into the structure for the engine company prior to making the roof. While approaching the door, I began a mental size-up while also developing a plan of action. The storefront entrance had a outward-opening, narrow stile glass door with storefront windows on each side of it. The hinged side of the door consisted of a top and bottom offset pivot-type hinge system. (2) The latch side had a plate-style pull handle with a push/pull bar that could be seen through the glass. (3) The latch-side stile contained a single cylinder with a spacer ring above the handle. Due to the height of the cylinder (above Life Safety 101 code standards, 34- 48 inches) and the absence of a panic bar, we could make a reasonable assumption that this will be a kind of mortise lock. We could go another step to further narrow down the style of mortise lock present by looking for specific characteristics in and around the cylinder. To the side of the cylinder, on the frame, there was no strike plate or strike wear from a slam latch, nor did we see a paddle or handle on the inside of the glass behind the cylinder. That left us with two styles: a pivoting deadbolt or a short-throw deadbolt.
Choosing a Lock Puller
As mentioned previously, our minimum staffing can make it difficult to self-assign a larger lock puller as part of our regular complement of tools. However, the benefit of carrying a modified Rex tool or the original K-tool is its small size and the ability to throw it in a pocket. (4) On this alarm, I removed a modified adz Rex from my pocket to pull the cylinder. I chose the Rex variation because of its versatility and ease of setting behind locks that sit flush or have tapered collars or wide spacers. Also, when space is limited around the cylinder, the blades on the Rex tool are thinner than that of the K-tool. Both tools have a welded metal strap on them, which allows the adz of a halligan tool to be inserted for pulling the lock cylinder. (5, 6)
Pulling the Cylinder
It is good practice to make note of the keyway orientation before pulling the cylinder. Although it does not always hold true, the keyway orientation can be a consideration when identifying the location of the action. The ramped or beveled edge of the Rex tool should be placed flush against the door, allowing the blades to bite behind the spacer and providing optimal leverage (i.e. fulcrum). Holding the Rex tool with an offhand during the initial striking motion ensures it always bites or glides into a proper position. (7) After the initial set, apply additional strikes to make sure the tool has a secure bite around the cylinder. This may help prevent the tool from stripping through the threads or chipping the thin cylinder face, ultimately slipping off the cylinder. If the lock puller slips off, a more aggressive bite may do the trick. After the tool is set, flip the halligan around from the striking surface to the adz and insert it into the adz strap of the Rex. With one strong motion, the halligan is leveraged upward on the door as the cylinder is pulled from the door’s lock cage. Now, the cylinder is retained within the blades of the Rex tool, and they will both fall to the ground. If the cylinder is needed at a later time to identify what is on the back (i.e. cam, stem, etc), then you will know where to find it.
Manipulating the Action
Although I had pulled numerous lock cylinders on props during drill, this was the first time I pulled one at a fire. All eyes were on me; I was confident but nervous. As the line was being flaked, bled, and readied to advance, in the video you will hear an officer ask: “Going to take you long?” My prior through-the-lock training consisted of keyway orientation and the “clock” method. However, in all honesty, these methods were never a consideration, but merely an afterthought. After the cylinder was pulled, the first thing that stood out to me within the cylinder opening was a swing arm. Right then it confirmed that the lock was a mortise-style pivoting deadbolt. Before proceeding, always take a moment and look at the swing arm orientation. One could inadvertently lock the door and find out later that the lock was disengaged and a hidden lock/s and/or a magnet are securing the door. Size up the swing arm’s position. If it is away from the frame, then the bolt is engaged. (8) The pivoter can be confusing for the mere fact that the action is “reversed.” Your instinct may be to go away from the frame, however sliding the action toward the frame will disengage the bolt. The next step is to manipulate (move) the action to disengage the bolt. Knowledge of this specific lock can go a long way. There are three key details that can be obtained by looking into the cylinder opening of a mortise-style pivoting deadbolt. First, you can discern the type of lock. Second, you can determine if the bolt is engaged. The third piece of information you can obtain is where to place the key tool to manipulate the action. The swing arm moves with, and is in line with, the action. The swing arm has a “lightbulb” shaped cutout in which the pivot pin intersects and engages on the lock cage. By placing the cam end of the key tool at the base of the swing arm between the two rollers, pushing down to release the spring-loaded pivot pin, and rolling the action toward the frame, the bolt will disengage. (9) If the action is tight, a push/pull motion on the door will reduce friction on the bolt, making it easier to move.
Tips for Improving Effectiveness in Forcible Entry, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Making Entry
Once the lock was disengaged, the engine company began their advance and I proceeded to the roof to begin ventilation efforts. (10, 11) Unfortunately, their advance was quickly halted just inside the doorway. Here they encountered a metal cage with a door secured by magnetic lock. As previously mentioned in the initial size-up, this was a jewelry store, which could mean additional security measures. Once patrons entered the occupancy, the owner can grant or deny access by “buzzing” (disengaging the electric locking mechanism) them in. Due to smoke conditions limiting visibility and new forcible entry issue, the line backed out. Luckily, shortly after arrival, the truck company’s outside vent firefighter began navigating through a series of obstacles, including perimeter fencing to make access to the Charlie side. Simultaneously, as the line was being backed out, the Charlie side door was forced open. Upon opening it, the fire was located in the Bravo/Charlie corner of the structure. Firefighters swiftly redirected the line to this location and rapidly knockded down the fire.
One must consider the outcome of this fire if the storefront’s door and window’s glass were taken for entry and ventilation. We have all witnessed an ill-timed (uncoordinated with the hoseline operating and advancing on the fire) or improperly placed ventilation opening that has impacted the fire in some way. Would the outcome have been the same for this fire? Would the nozzle stream have been as effective from the front to the rear, through obstacles? Could there have been some kind of significant fire event or rapid fire growth? This is a perfect example of why the through-the-lock method is the gold standard for aluminum stile doors.
BRANDON MAURER is a 14-year veteran of the Wichita (KS) Fire Department and the senior chauffeur assigned to Truck Company 1, Downtown. He’s an instructor at FDIC International’s Hybrid HOT Program through-the-lock forcible entry class. He also instructs for the Wichita Truck Academy, teaching fire recruits and law enforcement with various instructor cadres, with an emphasis on truck company operations and forcible entry. He has also served with Wichita Police SWAT as a breacher.
