Joe Brown from DCFD Truck Company 17 sent in this tip that works well for truck companies with side mounted ladders. It involves a webbing tension strap, a bull ring, a worm clamp, duct tape and some super glue (just kidding about the duct tape and super glue.) It’s actually a very slick method of mounting a hook to the ladder. It’s quick to install and uninstall on the ladder, and more importantly it’s very quick to deploy when the hook is needed. Joe and the Truck 17 crew have put a lot of thought into ensuring that this particular set-up improves their fireground efficiency, click here for the details of the set-up.
Joe had a great quote that applies to this and every other tip we share on the site:
The most important thing is that you don’t just borrow an idea; you have to train with it, practice, put it through the works and make sure its right for your area and company personnel.
Great tip!
pros: One less radio request for eq or “runner” and doesn’t interfere with rungs.
cons: should’ve used red webbing…
That’s brilliant!
Awesome Walter…. now if you could just keep them on…lol!
This is a great time saver for the outside vent man. Once the ladder is placed, the hook is right at the tip where you need it to clear the window. The other great feature of this type of application is for the guys inside. Once you finished your search of the upper floors you don’t have to run back out to the Truck to get a hook,(this is assuming you were searching with irons or some other tool). Just reach out the window to the tip of the ladder and grab that hook. This can also be done from the roof if your hands were full carrying the saw. Once you have made you cuts just reach over and grab the hook to knock the ceiling out. Thanks to Joe for sharing.
P.S. Just a little reminder for guys new to Truck Operations. When you remove the glass, remove the sash. When you take out a window, make it a door. Just a little thing that bothers me to see still gets forgotten on a lot of firegrounds.
I remember seeing the use of a hook as a marking point for a window (egress). Hook is place so that one portion is on the sill and the other is on the floor of the room being searched….helps the interior crew find the window in heavy smoke conditions….another great feature about having the hook mounted at the tip of the ladder…….geeez….I wonder if this voids the ladder warranty….just kidding!
Great idea guys.
Tim,
Another school of thought (trick-of-the-trade from Captain Mike Dugan)on window sashes is to leave it in place after venting the window if no ladder is going to be placed there, and fully clear the window/sash (as you indicated)when a ladder is positioned at the window. A firefighter on the interior would have an indicator when visiblity is low to which window is laddered.
“The most important thing is that you don’t just borrow an idea; you have to train with it, practice, put it through the works and make sure its right for your area and company personnel.”
Joe that is very true. I say that all the time. What works for one guy or company may not work for everyone. The area plays a key factor as well. Great job joe be safe and talk to you soon.
What type hook is in the picture? The head of the hook seems wider than a normal NY Roofhook. Any info would be greatly appricated.
Nick….I think this is it
http://www.columbussupply.com/products/?productid=129
Nick and PFD023…The hook we utilize with this set-up is commonly referred to as a “NYC ROOF HOOK” or also know as a “FARRELL HOOK”. If you notice the head is angled on one side, while the other side of the head is flat. Also the opposite end of the hook has a chiseled end on it which can be used as a prying tool. Finally the shaft is made of steel vs fiberglass, such as the hook pictured above.
Here is a link with some more info pertaining to this hook…
http://www.firehooksunlimited.net/hooks.html
I use the griff hook and love it.
But on the subject of the New York Roof Hook….what are the advantages to metal versus fiberglass?
We run National Hooks with fiberglass, always have. We have a few 6′ two man pike poles for shiplap (which is absolutely lovely)
Brotherhood above all.
Stay safe.
If you have to use the prying end of the hook, the metal will allow you to use more force. Also, with the metal, you can “toe” the hook and use the shaft to drive in the halligan (roof man forcing stairwell/monitor door) if you needed to.
Maybe it’s the picture but I know what a NY Roofhook is but the one pictured appears to be about an 1″-1 1/2″s wide at the head itself. Anyway thanks for the reply…
“We have a few 6′ two man pike poles for shiplap (which is absolutely lovely)”
564 where you are you from?
Near Houston, Texas.
Nick if you look on fire hooks unlimited website and look for the hooks section you will get a better picture of the hook in particular.
We call it a Halligan Hook in NYC.
564, I guess it depends on your preference and your task at hand. We tried both the fiberglass outside vent hook with the adjustable 6’ to 8’6†option and the roof hook 8’ and 10′ in length. For good old smashing, prying and pulling the roof hook wins hands down, it has nice balance, weight and is a tuff ass tool. The only weakness we found is the “Celtex gripâ€. The plus on the fiberglass modals are the adjustability in length and a bit lighter but does not do as well for prying and pulling. We went with the roof hook and found if you make nice with some FDNY guys they can show you some tricks that can make the tool as versatile as a Hallagan. Stay safe and merry Christmas to all
If you have tricks to make the tool more versitile then this is the place to share them!
Kudos to Joe and T17 for this. We’re attempting to make a very similar setup on our 24′ on our Squad Rig since we’re doing more and more truck work then not.
Be Safe Everyone, and please, enjoy yourselves a Fire Safe Holiday Season.
We carry one of these on our squad coupled with a halligan bar. If I learned it correctly, this was originally called a halligan hook as Forgotten stated above since it was designed by the same officer that designed the halligan bar.
we also carry the griff hook which is basically the smaller (4ft) version.
Both of them are excellent tools. Sq27, try using it with the halligan. You can use either tool to “set” the other into a door frame for forcible entry. They also work well as pry bars for lifting operations during RIT work.
My only complaint is that many people see the fact that the tool is steel so many think it is indestructible and can pry anything. The shaft is hollow, not solid, so yes it does bend after a certain amount of force is applied to it. As far as the celtex grip goes, we just strip it off and wrap the handle with tubing and hockey tape. It lasts a lot longer.
I have not seen one that is hollow, the one we carry is solid steel and I have put some force on it. As for the this style hook being invented by the same officer as the halligan is not true. The halligan bar was invented by Deputy chief Hugh Halligan in 1948. This style hook did not show up till the 1960’s and 1970’s in the “war years” of FDNY. Just a little history for you guys. Be safe god bless.
ES,
I happen to have one of the original ads for the halligan hook framed in my office and it is Chief Halligan “showing off” his “new” Halligan hook along with his original Halligan bar. As far as the Original and similar roof hooks, Halligan hooks or whatever a FD calls it, they are all made from aircraft steel tubing (also known as chrome moly in the racing industry). If you had 6′ solid steel shaft the weight of the tool would make it impractical for many fire duties…which may be the case with some “home-made” versions of the tool.
Check out the Fire Hooks Unl. website. Under the new products category they have what is called the Talon hook. It’s a NY roof hook with a forked end similar to the halligan in place of the prying tip.
Kevin December 18th, 2008 9:34 pm
“We have a few 6′ two man pike poles for shiplap (which is absolutely lovely)â€
564 where you are you from?
I’m curious as to why you asked.
Jamie Morelock, any chance on getting a copy of that advertisement to make a poster for the firehouse?
…or a cool post on vententersearch? -Jimm-
The Talon Hook, also known as the Vulcan Hook. Big props to Mark Gregory of FDNY Rescue 2, Lt. Pete Lund(RIP), and the guys of J.A.F. for the idea.
It is small 4″ x 6″ , after the holidays I will scan it and send it to Jimm