Weakest Link

So what are your original thoughts? Saw, maul, heavy irons? From a distance, these bars certainly look like they could be displaced with a few solid strikes at the point of attachment to the brick. Here’s where a closer look can pay off…

The bars are of the fold-down type, and are meant to be secured in the top right and left corners with padlocks. Upon closer inspection, the business owner has slipped a bolt through the eyelet instead of using an actual lock. Sliding the bolt out allows the bars to freely tilt out and down. While attacking this device with a sledge would have accomplished the task, overlooking such a simple fix wastes valuable time on the fireground. Remember to keep your head on a swivel and avoid “tunnel vision”. Also, this just goes to show how regularly walking your area, even during your tour of duty, can make you a more prepared and better firefighter.

We always advocate slowing down and think a little bit before forcing anything. This example proves the point. A little bit of “working smarter not harder” would pay off in this case. We called this post the weakest link; we did that to remind ourselves that sometimes WE are the weakest link! Don’t ever be outsmarted by a little bit of metal. Slow down... Indentify... Visualize... Then force.

Again, special thanks go out to Firefighter Oleg Pelekhaty from DC Fire Dept Engine 2 for sending in this find.