Go to fireengineering.com and watch the training minutes videos. They show you how to use the flat side of the axe to break through the roofing instead of cutting with the blade. Sometimes the blade gets stuck in the wood or wedged, and you need to pull it out. With the flat head you power through the roofing and wont get stuck. Goes fast too and it works. Always have a tool on you though like already mentioned. NEVER get off the truck without some tool; pike pole, irons, axe, saw, rope, flashlight, SOMETHING. Makes it go faster when you already have the tool the officer is yelling for instead of having to run to the truck.