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Some tools of the trade with some history
If a firefighter does not have the proper equipment (including tools and apparel) to fight fires or tackle emergencies, they will not be able to effectively fulfill their role. They may also put themselves at risk of sustaining a serious injury
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The Halligan
The Halligan bar was designed by New York City Fire Department (FDNY) First Deputy Chief Hugh Halligan in 1948 and was named after him. That same year, blacksmith Peter Clarke made the first prototype of the tool. Despite its popularity among FDNY ladder companies, the department initially refrained from purchasing the tool to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. However, the Boston Fire Department was the first major customer of the Halligan bar, purchasing one for every fire company in the city. This led to widespread adoption of the tool, first in North America and eventually worldwide. The Halligan bar has become the most versatile hand tool for fire ground tasks over the past seven decades
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The Adz-Bar
The Adz-Bar forcible entry is an innovative tool for all operations from forcible entry, to search and overhaul. This tool is a Pro-Bar (Halligan) tool, except that an Adz replaces the traditional fork on the end of the bar. The Adz is gently curved and thin enough to penetrate those tight spaces during forcible entry operations.
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The Axe
Fire axes are among the most common firefighting tools. There are various types of firefighter axes; the two most used are the flat head fire axe and the pick head fire ax. Either can be used for smashing windows or doors to gain entry, or to chop holes in a roof for ventilation.