Window Prop

Captain Dale Pekel from Wauwatosa Fire (WI) and Elm Grove Fire (WI) sent in this informative video of a simple but effective training prop he has developed. The prop is simple to build, easy to set-up and break down, and doesn’t cost more than $200. The prop has a number of different configurations that allow it to be changed up to make some of the drills more challenging. Take a look at the video to see the various different techniques that can be practiced on this prop. This prop would be useful for performing quick drills around the firehouse that can be incorporated into more full scale drills at a later date. It would also be handy to have set-up at the firehouse during inclement weather that makes training outside a challenge.
[flv]http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/props/windowprop.flv[/flv]

85 thoughts on “Window Prop

  1. LT Rob says:

    I always enjoy watching your Youtube videos. GREAT idea Dale. These really are a very versatile addition to the firehouse. Glad to see people using their heads. thanks for sharing!

  2. FEO CJ Woody says:

    Great idea. I will definatly build one for our station. Keep up the good work and be safe out there.

  3. stewpac says:

    That was an excellent demo. I was impressed with how fluid you were able to describe the prop, and the functions that were able to be accomplished with it. Well done.

  4. Dale G. Pekel says:

    Thanks for the comments and feedback – If anyone would like additional photos or measurements of the prop, feel free to email me (FFDPEK@aol.com) and I will forward them on.

    There are more uses than what we show in the video, but YouTube has a 10-11 min max so we ran out of time. I recently added a “Denver Drill” hallway extension to the prop. It’s also portable, breaks down for transport and attaches directly to the wall. In the future I will post another video on it.

  5. acklan says:

    You have done a great job. Very cool.

  6. Tim says:

    What an amazing training prop! You are only limited by your imagination. Finally everyone can practice using the rope or webbing they have shoved in their pocket to see if will work as they have hoped. Having a bailout kit is only half the solution. Being able to use it with out having to think is the other. The more you drill with it, the better you will get. You could do a different drill everyday for a month with this window prop.

    Thanks to Dale and everyone else who had a hand in it’s construction and design.

    Now stop talking and start drilling!

  7. pfd24 says:

    Awesome idea, like people have said before, the versitility of this prop is unbeliveable. im gonna bring it up to the capt. at our dept.

    Train hard, play hard

  8. 10BOX says:

    Absolutely amazing! By chance do you have a parts list and measurements? I’d love to build one for my company. Please email me. Teddytamulevich@gmail.com

    Thanks,

    FTM-PTB

  9. Goody says:

    excellent work. love the “low cost” innovation. I have been looking for a prop like this that would not have the need for a saftey line to be in place. I will definately push to have this prop added to our departments wooden prop arsenal!

  10. Gillespie says:

    I’d never seen the tool in the wall bailout technique, with the axe handle inserted down in the wall. Is there any concern with this method in regards to drywall? Height of tool placement help or hurt? And if bailing out there would potentially be an extreme heat load on drywall making it weaker. Thanks.

  11. pfd24 says:

    Gillespie—
    he has a youtube page that explains the tool in the wall technique a little bit. http://www.youtube.com/user/FFDGP
    im not sure the title of the exact video but its in there. hope that can answer your question

  12. Sherm says:

    GREAT JOB very innovative looks like a good prob for the seasoned fireman as well as some skill building for our rookie firefighters. thanks for the post

  13. Stone says:

    Great video, some of the best I’ve seen yet! Thanks

  14. mike says:

    That is one nice prop. Some one took the time to study what firefighters need in ever day training. Good job. I wish i thought of it.

  15. Charlie says:

    Great Idea for training. Very versatile. Could you send me the materials list and plans. Thanks

  16. LAD288 says:

    Can a leaf blower be attached to this training prop? How about an electric meter trainer??

  17. GaryLane says:

    I guess enough people already commented on how great this thing looks…oh well, heres one more. Really cool! Good job! I was going to work on building a Denver Drill Prop this week but I think instead Ill just go for the” whole shebang” in one slick training idea!!! Thanks for the great video and explanation!

  18. DMAN72 says:

    Ive been contemplating a donkey prop. It has a spring loaded back leg.(For obvious reasons)

  19. FireMedicATrain says:

    Captain Dale Pekel and crew,
    Thank you so much for developing this excellent training device. Your details in explanation of construction as well as demonstration of utilization are seemless and appear almost “too-easy to believe.” With any luck, something similar to your device will be constucted in our Firehouse in the very near future. Thanks again!

  20. Karl says:

    We recently made this prop at the station. On the front of the wall we added a triangle at the base for low profile crawling with wires under the deck and another low profile hole at the end of the deck. The triangle is 22″ up from the base and 26″ across at the base. We made the platform the same dimention so we can turn it and crawl through the studs. We mounted two eye bolts to the side of the triangle so we can secure the ladder. On each sides of the prop we put door hinges, padlocks, and chain to practice pulling and cutting.
    As we were building this everyone was coming up with ideas for it, so we continued to add things. Perfect prop to leave in the apparatus bay as well.

    Thank you Captain Pekel for the great training idea. Stay safe brother!

  21. JCOXRFD says:

    Thanks for sharing. What a great tool to have at the firehouse. I checked out the rest of your youtube classes. Some of the best instruction I’ve seen in a long time. Keep it up.

  22. cfdff48 says:

    Karl,
    do you have any pictures you can share of your mods to this prop?

  23. Jason Gray says:

    I am glad that this is posted here as i was getting ready to do it. We just finished building this prop and it is great. There are alot of additions that can be made to it. Add a 2×6 top cap so you can tie off ropes, use a 4×8 ft platfor for ves training, etc. its really great!

  24. Ryan Patrician says:

    This one aint bad…nice job! Guy in the video is a bit of a dweeb but hey cant win em all!

  25. Steven Gunn says:

    Hey Patrician – I’ve met the brother that made this video and chances are he’s forgotten more about firefighting than you’ll ever know. He’s one of the most knowledgeable, dedicated and unselfish guys out there. Just curious what you’ve done for the brotherhood? Until you’re willing to step up – Shut your cake hole!

  26. Greg Samuelson says:

    Patricia’s an idiot! I have made a few training videos for my Fire Department and they are not easy. I thought Captain Pekel did a great job, smooth and informative. He has quite a few videos on you tube that are also excellent.

  27. pfd27 says:

    Makes me think “Patty’s” not a FF…

  28. internet detective says:

    According to Patricia’s facebook page, he has about two minutes worth of experience in the FD. Graduated HS in ’06 and working for the Paxton FD in MA since ’07- What a Powerhouse of Experience and Knowledge! A phone call to the boys at Paxton FD might set reveal a bit more about this legend of the fire service. Oh, and nice picture, dork.

  29. mhalmasy says:

    Hey Patti there is a saying you should know “It’s better to not say a word and have people think your and idiot then to open your mouth and eliminate all doubt”

  30. Chris says:

    GREAT GREAT INVENTION GUYS!!!! What an awesome tool for those cold winter days or like you mentioned, inclimate weather. Would you please send a drawing or the specs to my email mentioned (lilwoz475@msn.com)?? I would really like to show the chief what it would look like!!

  31. RR E8T says:

    When you dont have the knowledge or common sense to post a comment that relates to the job, and you obviously don’t respect the other brothers, you resort to comments like R. Patrician has resorted to. I respect everyone else on here, no matter where they are from or what opinion or idea they throw out. If I dont agree, I listen and at the most make a good discussion out of it for some learning. However it is hard to respect a member like R.P. because I fear he may be a shining example of how the brotherhood is being forgotten and how our job is being treated less and less like a blue collar trade. It is easy to come on here and throw comments out like you do Patrician, and it may be just to fire people up…..but I have to ask what have you brought to the table? On this site and at your own department?

  32. Eric PBCFD31 says:

    Great video. awesome prop to practice bail outs

  33. Keith102 says:

    For anyone that hasn’t check out his Youtube page, DO IT. This guy is a great teacher and we are lucky to have such readily access to this info. Thanks pdf24 for putting it on here.

  34. Ryan says:

    I am a LT in Windsor fire department and I showed my tanning officer what you guys made, I think that was a great idea. If you could send me the plans to make one for my company it would be much appreciated.
    firery850@gmail.com

    stay safe

  35. FD3953 says:

    That is an amazing prop. Im part of a volunteer fire department down in texas, and our training is lacking in good props. I would love it if you would send me a list of materials and instructions on how to construct this prop. you can email me at chipfire3@yahoo.com it would be greatly appreciated

  36. Abe Madrigal says:

    That is a great prop, I just showed it to our training chief and he is all for it. if you wouldn’t mind sending me the plans so we could build it, it would be much appreciated. email at abrahamm@ci.hillsboro.or.us

  37. mislandw says:

    Excellent prop. Loved the video. Just showed it to the head of our training division and was given permission to build it. Would you mind sending plans for it, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
    email: jhoog3@cfl.rr.com

  38. Craig Leisenring says:

    Great prop with lots of positive comment from my whole company. We would love to have one of these for our house. If not too much trouble could you please send me the plans. Thanks and be safe.

    -Capt. Craig Leisenring

  39. John Cermak says:

    Great prop! I was wondering if I too could get the plans for the prop.

  40. Mike Zuppardi says:

    Great Prop. Just wanted to know if I could get a set of plans for this as well as the Denver Drill plans. Im not sure if this goes to your E-mail, so Ill shoot you one of those also. Thanks. Great job. Stay safe and keep em’ coming.

  41. Dale G. Pekel says:

    Guys thanks for all the interest, but I do not get notified when someone posts a comment. I do check the site periodically for postings, but for the fastest response send your questions to my email – FFDPEK@aol.com

  42. Tower 1 says:

    Great prop!! Could you email me the spec so we can build it in house. Thanks, Great job

  43. ncinstructor says:

    Grea prop! I can’t wait to start building this. I see alot of great training coming out of this prop. Also awesome video!

  44. ryan hess says:

    great idea i would like to build one.. can u email me the plans and materials list

  45. ryan hess says:

    great job .. i would like to build on for my department could you email me the plans and materials list… thanks rwhess@comcast.net

  46. Colton Ashby says:

    This is a fantastic prop. I was wondering if I could get a set of detailed plans to build this for our Battalion?

    Thanks and great job!

  47. Jesse "Delgato" says:

    Really cool guys…great ideas…keep up the training!

  48. Mark Waters says:

    Awesome Prop. Nice job. We would like to build this prop. at the Connecticut Fire Academy. Please email me the plans and/ or pictures. email to: mudff70@yahoo.com

  49. Sn33kR-2Truck-TFD says:

    Great prop, built it for a grand total of $94.00 plus an out of service roof ladder that I cut down to the required length. There are a ton of training opportunities using this. Thanks again for the great idea.

  50. Ian C. says:

    looks great, any chance you can send me the plans or specs or whatever you have? If any of you have plans or something similar with a materials list that would be great!
    thanks email me at xsst44@gmail.com

  51. Greg Bricker says:

    Can you please e-mail me the plans for this? Great Prop!!

  52. Rick says:

    great video…….. can i get a copy of the plans to build one ? thanks………

  53. Stephen Ede says:

    This is a great idea. We have wanted to build on for some time. So can you email me the material list and plans for this prop. Thanks for sharing this prop.

  54. Jason Luna says:

    Hello my name is Jason I would like to build this prop at my department.Do you have the plans and or a material list that you can send me? Thank you and keep up the good work.

  55. Jeff Mensies FF says:

    Springfield Fire and Rescue Service
    Manitoba, Canada

    Captain Pekel…BRILLIANT.

    I will definitely attempt to re-create this masterpiece, but would undoubtedly appreciate any plans or schematics you may have available for distribution.

    Thanks for unselfishly helping ensure we all get home.

  56. DALE G. PEKEL says:

    Brothers and Sisters,

    If you’re interested in plans for the prop I need your email address – Mine is FFDPEK@aol.com. I do not get notified when coments are posted here so the only way I will know if you’re interested in the prop is if you contact me directly.

    Best Regards,
    Dale G. Pekel

  57. adam says:

    Would like a copy of the drawings if possible.

  58. Nate999 says:

    adam,

    shoot Dale an e-mail at the address in the comment right above yours. We built one several months ago and it works out great for a lot of things.

  59. sarah says:

    Could you please send me the plans for this prop. Thanks.

  60. Scott says:

    Great prop ! Would love to get the specs off of this for my volunteer departmet!

  61. Steven Barwick says:

    This looks like a great prop for many training scenarios. I would love to build one for my department. Could you please send me the specs for it. Thanks for all your videos. williamsbarwick@yahoo.com

  62. Nate999 says:

    “Brothers and Sisters,

    If you’re interested in plans for the prop I need your email address – Mine is FFDPEK@aol.com. I do not get notified when coments are posted here so the only way I will know if you’re interested in the prop is if you contact me directly.

    Best Regards,
    Dale G. Pekel”

  63. Marc Schulz says:

    Great videos !! could you email me the bail out prop plans for our department. We would like to build one for our department. Thanks.

  64. Scott Slayter says:

    Dale,
    I like the prop that you have designed. I would like to see about getting all three, the window drill, denver, and pitched roof.

    Thanks,
    S. Slayter

  65. Mark says:

    Dale,

    Great Videos! Could you please email me the window and pitched roof prop plans!

    Thanks,

    Mark Fleming

  66. Ryan says:

    Great prop! I would like to build one for my department. Can someone please send me the specifications/plans.

    Thanks!

  67. Eric Martin says:

    Hi Dale,
    My name is Eric Martin and I was hoping that it might be possible for you to send me the plans for the bailout windo prop.
    Thank you for any assistance possible.
    Eric

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    hello!,I love your writing very much! percentage we be in contact more about your post
    on AOL? I require an expert in this house to resolve my problem.
    Maybe that is you! Taking a look forward to peer you.

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