Training in Action: Harwich Firefighters Practice Critical Entry Techniques
Firefighter training is a critical part of every shift. In an emergency, crews must be prepared to perform multiple tasks under pressure and often in challenging conditions.
Last week, Harwich Firefighters trained with two specialized props from the Barnstable County Public Safety Training Department designed to strengthen forcible entry skills.
Practicing Critical Entry Techniques
Firefighters are often required to gain access through locked doors, windows, or bulkheads during emergencies. The training included a forcible entry door and a bulkhead door, allowing crews to practice realistic scenarios they may encounter in the field.
Exercises like these help firefighters build the strength, coordination, and teamwork needed to safely and quickly gain entry when responding to emergencies.
Tools That Make the Work Possible
During the training, firefighters worked together using a flathead axe and a Halligan bar—a pry bar originally created by New York City firefighter Hugh Halligan.
Over time, the Halligan bar has become a standard tool found on nearly every fire truck in the country and is also carried by many police departments. Combined with proper training and teamwork, tools like these allow firefighters to respond quickly when access is needed to reach people inside a building.
Regular training ensures that when emergencies occur, firefighters are ready to act quickly and effectively.
