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Tools Taken In During Search?
what kind of tools do you take in on searches need some different views here
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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How in the hell can you do anything with all the crap you are carrying...? Are you a Firefighter or a pack mule...?? LOL
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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What I mentioned is "light". "Heavy" is taking a line or more tools than the ones I mentioned.
My philosophy for primary search includes:
1) The TIC will get you in and it will help you find victims and the fire, but it won't get you out.
2) If you're in a small, cluttered occupancy (SFDs) then the search rope is probably more hinderance than help, but we have big box occupancies and multi-story buildings. The search rope is a big help in those.
3) The TIC is clipped to the officer's coat, so you don't have to carry it in a hand unless using it.
4) We have a lot of dropped/acoustic tile ceilings. The New York hook makes it easy to do a "Poke and Peek" into the overhead to ensure that the overhead isn't burning before you advance under it.
5) The irons can get you into most interior occupancies. The few we have that need stouter forcible entry either have a master key in the Knox Box or can be forced with a Rabbit Tool. We don't take the Rabbit tool to force lightweight interior doors.
6) Taking the water can is selective. If the search team is closely supported by an engine with a hoseline, they usually don't take the can. Searching above the fire without a line usually includes the can. That gives the truckies the ability to extinguish a small fire with the can before the engine gets the line in - and bust their chops about it afterward.
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It sounds as if your practice is similar to ours, but why carry two halligan tools?
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Permalink Reply by Chris Weber on
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Light and an ax.
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Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on
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It's really not that bad. The TIC has a strap we wear over our shoulder and so does the box light. I wear the box light on my right and the TIC on my left. This leaves both hands free for tools. We believe that for a Truckie, one tool is good but two tools are great. HAHAHA! We always carry 2 tools.
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We've found that the haligan is one of the most versatile tools on the fireground and the members did not want to give it up so we incorporated that into our tool assignments. Even our medic units(Ambulances staffed with FF/paramedics) carry a set of irons, a pick head axe, and a 6 ft hook.
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Hahaha! maybe on our new t-shirts we should have a pack mule with a helmet on as our mascot, huh?
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And a rope.
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I used to carry a set of irons on my medic back in the day, along with bolt cutters, pry (pinch) bar, an E-Tool, and a good set of small hand tools. We didn't use them often, but they came in handy when needed.
Back on the fire search, I want to make sure that we're talking about the same thing.
You said " I carry a TIC, a box light, a haligan, and a 6ft roof hook." and then added
"We search in teams of two and the member who goes with me carries the irons and a box light."
My question was that those statements sounded as if both you and your partner both carry Halligan tools. If that's the case, why take two halligan tools if you're working together?
If I misunderstood and "irons" means something other than a Halligan and a flat-head axe in your department, could you explain?
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Permalink Reply by capcityff on
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There are maybe 3-4 guys that come off the rescue squad(out of 5) at the same time with a halligan bar. Many guys like to have a bar as their tool since it's small and has a lot of uses. The rescues only job is search and rescue on every box alarm. They usually search in teams of two while the driver is outside cutting bars of the windows and doors or throwing ladders by himself. Remember though, just because you go in as that team of two doesn't mean you are connected at the other guy's hip. Say you are going down a hallway with several rooms, the guys can split up and search a few rooms on their own.
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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Ha! I used to always get ribbed about all the crap I'd bring with me...right up until someone needed to use what I was carrying!
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Understood. I realize that a Halligan can be used by itself. However, if you need a striking tool with the second Halligan, a 6-foot hook isn't the best choice I can think of.
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