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The Mule Kick. Why do we do it?
Why do we do it? Does it weaken the forcible entry skills we learn?
I'm not necessarily singling this Chicago officer out.
His actions in a video from work this morning just leave me wondering:
Why do we still kick open doors? I can understand the flimsy hollow-core interior doors, but I've seen firefighters kick, and kick, and kick, and kick, exterior doors at private dwellings, apartment buildings and commercial structures. At times with tools in hand.
What is this doing to the forcible entry skills we learn? When we have a tool in hand, and we aren't using it, do we lose that little bit of educational edge we may have had if we had used the tool?
Are you pissing away hard earned money when you go to the conferences and hands-on training, taking forcible entry classes, when kicking a door is your automatic response?
I'm just thinking out loud, not picking on the guy.
What do you think?
Other's comments can also be seen here.
I'm not necessarily singling this Chicago officer out.
His actions in a video from work this morning just leave me wondering:
Why do we still kick open doors? I can understand the flimsy hollow-core interior doors, but I've seen firefighters kick, and kick, and kick, and kick, exterior doors at private dwellings, apartment buildings and commercial structures. At times with tools in hand.
What is this doing to the forcible entry skills we learn? When we have a tool in hand, and we aren't using it, do we lose that little bit of educational edge we may have had if we had used the tool?
Are you pissing away hard earned money when you go to the conferences and hands-on training, taking forcible entry classes, when kicking a door is your automatic response?
I'm just thinking out loud, not picking on the guy.
What do you think?
Other's comments can also be seen here.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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it looked to me like the fire had already vented through the roof, minimizing the backdraft potential... and even though the mule kick is not taught per se at fire academies, the reason it's used is because it works sometimes, and because it's a method that requires minimal strain on your body parts, or in other words, it's quick and easy to use, only requiring backwards pressure, which again minimizes strain on your back and upper body and just maybe it's because folks are too lazy to use the tools? just sayin'
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Permalink Reply by Eat The Roof on
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It all depends on the door,I've used saws,irons,axes,sledgehammers and mule kicks to open a variety of doors.In my area(I'll call it depressed) once you get by the steel gates or reinforced exterior door I find the mule kick to be a fast and effective method to gain access.A good Irons team can make short work of outward opening steel or reinforced doors while saws can also be used for this same purpose.Door assessment should play a big role in what tools you decide to choose for any given door(inward or outward opening,Steel,reinforced,heavy solid core wood or lightweight hollow core......etc) Firefighting is a street fight,and utilizing all the tools at your disposal including your body is just one more way to stay effective and ahead of the curve.
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Permalink Reply by Dayne Schaeffer on
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Personally I am against the Mule kick. I have seen people try to do it and end up hurting their knees/hips in the process. To me even if the building has self vented, I think that controlling the door is still important, who is to say that an arsonist didn't start the fire and put something heavy behind the front door to keep you from getting in. All your going to do is get hurt in the process.
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Permalink Reply by Mongo on
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I questioned this too on the video. Makes no sense to me, I can see if for flimsy internal hollow doors, but a hotel exterior door? All the hotels I've ever been to those doors are freaking beasts and I can't imagine kicking one in.
I'm not this guy, he's obviously set in his ways and they work for him, just don't know why I'd ever carry around a 5 pound piece of steel to just hold it in my hand and use my foot.
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
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We do not kick doors, we use tools. Tools do not break at the ankle or knee, the don't file injury claims. Follow your training brothers, remember we fight like we train.
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Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on
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Cap, you hit it right on the head! Great reply! Also, alot of the times if the Engine Co arrives before the Truck Co a mule kick is the only option they have for making entry if they are not carrying tools.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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Of all the sins (and they are many) committed on our firegrounds, the "mule kick" is not exactly at the top of the "you shouldn't do that" list. Use the tools to do the work, for sure, but let's not get too excited over this minor infraction.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Here's a question: When standing in a narrow hallway, which has the greater force; a mule kick or the leverage of a properly placed halligan?
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Halligan. (In a wide hallway, too).
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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What do you think?
He saw the news cameras and it looks cool?
Because it works better than a spinning heel kick?
He thought his wife was there with another man? Take your pick.
Have I done this same thing? Yes. Is it the preferred method of forcible entry? No, but it does work. Do we lose our educational edge by using this technique? Absolutely not. With a lot of wrong things "we" do before we get to the fire, as well as while on the fireground, this action pales in comparison.
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Permalink Reply by John Gillelan on
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I've kicked open doors before, I usually use my BA when I enter a smoke filled room though.....
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Permalink Reply by Wade Seely on
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It's used as a counter balance, so he doesn't fall over and embarass himself in front of the cameras
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