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Car Hoods, what is the easiest way to open melted car hood?
We've all come upon car fires that the latch on the front of the hood is melted and apart from giving the hood a good yank (which sometimes works) what is the easiest way to open it?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by roy yoder on
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on a mva the hurst tools are already out and the hood is no competition to the spreaders and if on fire they are easier to use then hand tools or a k12 in full gear and while still doing the same damage doesn't freak out the owner as much. for some reason we had like 4 or 5 88 oldsmobiles and whipped our but to get the hood opened so on the last 2 we took the halligan to the side and pried up to get the nozzle in and after the fire was knocked down the jaws did the rest. we don't have a k12 on our truck so i hadn't thought of the inverted v but will show and try it on the next extrication class on the 12th.
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Permalink Reply by Brandon "QTR" Larson on
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We have metal cutting circular saw that works really well. It rips right through all supports and anything else that gets in its way under the hood.
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Permalink Reply by Brett Smith on
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The fastest way i'v seen is to k-12 the hood latch. You could eaven use the jaws of a sawzall.
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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on
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If you want quick access for an engine fire,slam the Halligan hook in either front corner of the hood and roll it to center,Gives you a nice access point with little or no exposure to the hood struts. If there has been much fire and the trip wire is burned off,just use the K12.Quick and painless.
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Permalink Reply by FF Nick on
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Take the flathead part of your Halligan Bar and swing it through the top of the hood right above where the latch/nader/striker (whatever you wanna call it is) shouldn't take but a swing or 2 unless your fighting a 1960's lead sled. Once you get your hole, move the bar back and forth to make it bigger then take the point end of the halligan, stick it through the latch and pull it to the side of the vehicle. Works every time for me.
That being said, it won't work on everything especially fiberglass hoods as they tend to just separate. Just make mental notes of what works best on which cars and go with it. There's no wrong way so long as the end result is the same.
I'd also like to point out since we're around the engine compartment to WATCH OUT FOR THOSE GAS CHARGED SHOCKS THAT ARE USED TO HOLD THE HOOD UP, even around the trunk. I've seen one blow out the side of a fender once and about 30 feet from where we were. Imagine a firefighter being in the path of a projectile like that?
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Permalink Reply by Barry Scobey on
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Why not use a piercing tool. Just slam it through the hood, side wall or where ever. Open up the nozzle and the fire goes out. Simple. Then complete overhaul. Majority of the time this completely handles engine compartment fires. Well involved completely different. Then use halligan to release latch.
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Permalink Reply by Scotty Mack on
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in my extrication classes I like to stress over simplification. at the heart of 99/100 hoods we have three contact points. one latch, two hinges. Don't make it any harder than it is. The bottom line is is the majority of all these are metal based. regardless of thermal insult, the latch mechanisms will usually still function, granted the rubber jacket release cables will have been melted away. The key is to expose the latching mechanism. A lot of times a simple bolt cutter can get in and remove the latching hardware. Don't get into a muscle battle with attempting to pry. Yes it can be done, but the operator always tends to look like a monkey having sex with a football. Get down on eye level, take a good look and work smarter than harder! The halligan will make quick work of exposing the mechanism, then find the weakest point and pick the most efficient tool!
BREAK STUFF!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Lt. Ballinger on
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I agree with Barry. Our dept carries an "Ape" which basically the same as a piercing nozzle with a few minor differences and we carry a Piercing nozzle. Problem is they are not preconnected on either of the engines, so they don't get used very much. I've sat and watch FF's kill themselves trying to open a hood for 10 min. If I'm engineering I try to take my second line and put the Piercing nozzle on it so the second engine in can grab it and go through the grill or headlights. Makes quick work of a car fire. Works awsome on mobil home fires also. I have used it numerous times on mobil homes to help keep the fire in check while the interior team makes their way through the crap to the back bedroom or something. Punch it through the wall and open it up all the way.
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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K-12 saw with a metal cutting blade and a haligan bar. Make a triangle cut around the latch with the point tward the winshield. then use haligan to pop the hood up. If the engine compartment is ripped off pry up the side of the hood with haligan and flat head axe place the nozzle in hole and open it up. This is a safe way to knock down the fire.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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We use the "Jaws". In a pinch we will use a pick head axe to open it up enough to either open the hood or at least put the fire out.
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