Detroit Door Opener
Richard Brown
I know, it's a silly piece of equipment but last month I (Lt. on Rescue
company) put in paper to have our pick head ax replaced with a Halligan
tool and a flat head ax in order to do better forceable entry. Well the
message got all messed up and for some stupid reason my Chief is having
the supply master send us out one of these!! Now the best part is that I
don't even think the thing well fit in any of the compartments of our
truck but if it does, does anyone out there have any experience with it.
I am bound and determined to use it since my Chief thinks it well do.
Any help is appreciated.
John Steele
We have a DDO on our squad truck and to date, the only use for it has
been as a qualification test question. I have not used or seen it used
ever, but the paid dept to our west swears by theirs. I have heard that
the NYC guys also love theirs. It strikes me as a beast to lug around.
Other opinions welcome...
--
John Steele
Lt. Rescue 31-9 Endwell FD
jst...@binghamton.edu
As always, I do not speak for Endwell Fire District or Department
Steven Hinch
We carried one on our Truck Co. til the unit was replaced in the late 80's.
I used the tool about 4 times and to tell you the truth it worked like it
was made to. It is a nice tool , back then, but now with all the others
available
it sits in my family room along with other old tools and equipment.
Steven C. Hinch
Fire Chief
Aberdeen Fire Department, Inc.
Aberdeen, Md 21001
http://www.netgsi.com/~schinch/afd.htm
Rescue Instructor
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute
Tim
We used to have one...we gave it away with the last Truck we sold!
--
"My words themselves
Are a balance and a blending
Of wisdom and folly...." quote from Taliesin
Terry L. Jack
I love the halligan tool. Very versital. Have on all engines and
rescues. Don't give up the pick headed fire axe. The halligan
will not solve every problem
--
APerl31630
We carry the Detroit Door Opener on our Ladder Truck in a long, slide-out
tray with other lesser-used forcible entry tools.
NIC...@aol.com
The Detriot door opener is a great tool and can produce a great amount of
leverage. Put the prybar part on the floor, adjust the vertical bar so the
teeth are just below the lock and lift. Don't be surprised if the whole door
and frame are driven into the space you are trying to get into.
God I love my job!!!!
Nick
JLH...@aol.com
I used it once 15 years ago....it worked but haven't seem it again
Richard Brown
Thanks for the reply John, we used it years ago and I don't remember it
being worth a hoot then. Probably end up against the wall in the
station.
Richard Brown
Thanks for the response Chief, it's been a long time since I've even
seen one. Probably end up against the station wall. Lt. R Brown Rescue
Co. 10 Tampa Fire Dept.
Richard Brown
Thanks for the responce Terry, I agree the Halligan isn't the cure all
but I feel that a Halligan with a flat head ax can be of more use than
just a pick head. I've responded to two fatal fires in the last couple
months (2 in the first and 4 in the second) and both times we faced bars
in the windows. It's a lot easier to remove them with a Halligan and
flat head and a pick head is of NO use against door bars.
Lt. R. Brown
David Chaplin, C.F.P.S.
At 17:04 3/2/97 -0500, you wrote:
>... I don't even think the thing well fit in any of the compartments of our
>truck but if it does, does anyone out there have any experience with it.
>
Try It-- You Might Like It !
Like everything else, it has its place. You may not want to use it
on a steel-frame door set in masonry, but on most other things,
it works well. It works by prying the jamb away from the locking
mechanism, which is usually less than an inch, or whatever gives
first . Long-throw dead bolts can be a problem, and the DDO can
cause a lot more damage than just shearing or knocking the lock off,
but if you're pumped up or pissed off it will provide some stress relief !
Its the next best thing to a sledge hammer.
Mount it securely on the outside of the compartments for quick access,
or just hide it after you learn how to use it !
Have Fun.
JS914
I work for FDNY and have never seen a DDO. We use the flat head axe and
the Halligan to force doors. Another tool we use is the rabbit tool. Its
a hydraulic tool that is placed between the door and the jam and will pop
open any door with just a few pumps. Sometimes this tool works so well
that the door is forced way before the engine has a line in place, thereby
putting the brothers in more danger if they dercide to do a quick search
without the safety of the line backing them up.
CLMa...@aol.com
I have used the Rabbit Tool as a Vollie and found it to be great. It's a
little heavy to lug in the bag and a little awkward w/out it. It is however
worth the hassle of carrying it. I am 5'8 160 now, at the time I used this I
was 5'8 115 or so. It really made a difference.
Chuck
EPFDENG 4
I have used it a couple of times. Works great in apartment buildings
where the construction is shoddy. Sometimes these doors are not framed as
well as single family dwellings. They seam to work really well on the new
metal 2X4 type construction. Takes some practice though.
Sean William Englert
Did you know the Detroit Door Opener was patented October 26, 1880? It
is hard to believe they are still used after 117 years.
William A Bongiorno
On Wed, 12 Mar 1997 21:41:59 -0600 Sean William Englert <fir...@arn.net>
writes:
>Did you know the Detroit Door Opener was patented October 26, 1880?
>It is hard to believe they are still used after 117 years.
Not only is the pat. more than one hundred years old, the tool
hasn't changed either...having said that, neither have doors...!! It's
the old adage..."If it's not broken...don't fix it" Which I'm not sure
holds true for a tool with this intended purpose.
Bill Bongiorno
Greg Bacon
I'm with the Columbia, MO FD and I'm interested in trading patches with
other FD's out there. If interested, e-mail me at the following: