Until recently, heavily fortified doors requiring an extensive forcible entry operation were limited to larger cities or select suburbs.  As inner-city areas “re-gentrify” or “clean-up”, statistics show that crime is being driven to the suburbs and outlying areas.  In those suburbs, security-conscious residents are now securing their homes using methods that some departments deem new or unfamiliar.  Major advancements have been made in locks and locking devices making even simple forcible entry operations more challenging.

The days of “kicking down doors” are over.  Kicking a door is not only unprofessional, if continued it will certainly result in increasing medical leave, which translates to further staffing issues for your department.  Forcible entry when performed by a trained member or team can mean the difference between a quick knock-down or complete loss.  Utilizing attributes such as knowledge, skill and correct technique instead of simply brute strength will allow passage through today’s forcible entry problems

All forcible entry topics below can be presented individually or as complete in-depth classes.  Allow Brotherhood Instructors, LLC to share our “street-smart” approach to professional forcible entry.  We have teamed up with Andrew Brassard from Canada to provide you with several realistic props for nearly all forcible entry situations.  Our instructors, the in-depth content, our props, and our ability to provide realistic forcible entry training without an acquired structure puts Brotherhood Instructors, LLC at the top of market in forcible entry training. 

Don’t wait until 3am with a report of people trapped
to hone your techniques with the Irons!

In-depth courses up to 3-days are available
covering all topics below and more!

Conventional Forcible Entry:
Inward/Outward Doors

True conventional forcible entry is a dying art.  In some cases, an entire generation of firefighters is now over-reliant on hydraulic forcible entry tools and power saws.  This has caused a drastic decline in proficiency in basic forcible entry techniques.  Forcing an inward and an outward swinging door in most cases can be done just as fast or faster with the “Irons” when compared to the same door with a power saw.  This segment will show your firefighters a systematic approach to every door that they will encounter.  Using this systematic approach, your firefighters will learn that they can force an inward or outward swinging door with the “Irons” before a member returns from the apparatus with the power saw. 

This class allows all members to force inward and outward swinging doors.

Gates and Padlocks
 

Roll-down gates or scissor gates are found in nearly all communities regardless of size and make-up.  The training of the member or members forcing the gates and/or locks will certainly control the speed at which the hose line can be placed into operation.  Typically, the first step in defeating a roll-down or scissor gate will involve removing padlocks.  Stronger construction materials and advancements in padlock features such as:  Hidden shackle locks (hockey-puck locks); shrouded padlocks; heel & toe construction; and homemade/altered locks have nearly made bolt-cutters a tool of the past. 

In addition, all firefighters must also know the steps to correctly and efficiently cut a roll-down gate.  In some cases, even though the padlocks have been defeated, the gate will not open due to warping.  A disciplined, well-trained firefighter will immediately switch to “Plan-B” and attack the gate itself without hesitation.  Our instructors can bring your firefighters up to speed to systematically attack this type of forcible entry problem. 

This class allows all members to force padlocks using a duck-bill lock-breaker and the “Irons”.  A roll-down gate prop is also on display to explain construction and component features as well as several options for defeating roll-down gates.

Through-the-Lock
 

Through-the-lock forcible entry is sometimes referred to as the “thinking-man’s” forcible entry.  Firefighters do not have to manipulate locks at the level of a master locksmith to be proficient in this skill.  Entering a building using through-the-lock techniques may be one of the most under-utilized techniques in the fire service.  In some cases, gaining access through-the-lock may be the fastest, safest, most appropriate and most professional technique for entering a building. 

Our instructors can help you add through-the-lock techniques to your forcible entry “tool-box”.  We utilize several variations of props, lock-boards and locks so you gain an excellent understanding of the devices, how they work and how to defeat them. 

This class allows all students to pull lock cylinders using several different tools, and manipulate several different locks or locking devices.

Saw Techniques
 

Most firefighters love to hear the words “grab the saw” from their officer.  Some firefighters believe that they receive enough power saw practice by removing it from the apparatus every Friday and starting it in front of quarters.  Our class balances power saw safety with simple techniques including hand and body positioning for various cutting. These hand and body positions will save you time and energy on the fireground. 

We couple these positioning techniques with basic overviews of power saw variations and blade types.  This class will give you techniques and knowledge to remain safe, efficient, effective and very professional while utilizing a power saw on the fireground. 

This class allows all students to cut a simulated padlock; hockey-puck lock; and simulated window bars of various heights.