Q
Quebec city fire
Guest
Does anyone can give me some info about the weight of the flat head axe usually carried on the irons tools?
Thanks a lot
Eric, Q.F.D. , Canada
Thanks a lot
Eric, Q.F.D. , Canada
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2009
- Messages
- 132
The normal axe carried by the Irons man in the FDNY is 8# not 6#. Generally, the 6# flat head axe is used by the OV or LCC.
Q
Quebec city fire
Guest
Thanks...why is the 8 pounder prefered to the 6?
Eric
Eric
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2009
- Messages
- 132
The 8# axe is heavier and requires less force then the 6#. For example, it may take you 8 hits on the halligan to get into a door with the 6# and maybe 5 hits with the 8#. Hope that helps.
Q
Quebec city fire
Guest
And if you only had one choice. Would you buy 6 or 8 pounds axe?
To the question of which I would buy, 6lbs or 8lbs? I would say the 8lbs flat head hands down. With any kind of light commercial or increased security residential it's always better to swing too much than to swing to little. Also a 10 or 12 lbs sledge/maul as the "pitching wedge" is always a good addition to any compliment of Truck Company tools, because if you know the place is well secured why not take a striking tool that can definatley open up masonary with ease if needed. Always work smarter (less swings and strength). Not harder!
Some of us have had the opportunity to visit the firehouse where Lt Ciampo works. In the basement of that firehouse is a door that was used in an apartment building apparently used by a drug dealer to keep the police from breaking in, rather than an intruder.
This solid steel door had SEVERAL Dead Bolts positioned in various places. Plus it had Three heavy duty thick chains attached to the inside of it and the inside floor. Along with several reinforcing steel bars going across it from side to side.
It can be difficult enough to force a steel door with one dead bolt, let alone several. Plus three heavy duty chains attached at various points in the door going to the floor. Particularly during some heavy smoke conditions where no signs of such security points would be visible from the outside of that door.
This was NOT a "commercial training door", but a door where there actually was a fire and encountered by this fire company. It was used to keep the police out.
This solid steel door had SEVERAL Dead Bolts positioned in various places. Plus it had Three heavy duty thick chains attached to the inside of it and the inside floor. Along with several reinforcing steel bars going across it from side to side.
It can be difficult enough to force a steel door with one dead bolt, let alone several. Plus three heavy duty chains attached at various points in the door going to the floor. Particularly during some heavy smoke conditions where no signs of such security points would be visible from the outside of that door.
This was NOT a "commercial training door", but a door where there actually was a fire and encountered by this fire company. It was used to keep the police out.
Years ago when I was captain on my volunteer company's heavy rescue, we received an "assist the police" call in a section 8 housing area. They were having difficulty in breaching the door of a drug dealer.
They had already worn themselves out trying to breach the door. I took the easier route of breaching the wall with our K12 saw. MUCH easier. We breached the wall in his bedroom (suspect was waiting for us in the living room with a sawed-off shotgun). Cops continued beating on the front door with their battering ram to keep him distracted.
Gunplay ensued - thankfully we were waiting off to the side with our trauma box.
All good. Badguy caught three rounds from the cops firearms. Cops were OK. Badguy lived (can't win 'em all
We demonstrated that sometimes its smarter to outflank the perp. And that sometimes the fire guys have good ideas in tactical situations.
They had already worn themselves out trying to breach the door. I took the easier route of breaching the wall with our K12 saw. MUCH easier. We breached the wall in his bedroom (suspect was waiting for us in the living room with a sawed-off shotgun). Cops continued beating on the front door with their battering ram to keep him distracted.
Gunplay ensued - thankfully we were waiting off to the side with our trauma box.
All good. Badguy caught three rounds from the cops firearms. Cops were OK. Badguy lived (can't win 'em all
We demonstrated that sometimes its smarter to outflank the perp. And that sometimes the fire guys have good ideas in tactical situations.