BY DANIEL M. TROXELL
Commercial occupancies such as strip stores and taxpayers are among the most challenging to firefighters when it comes to performing forcible entry operations. Because they are often targeted by criminals during nighttime nonbusiness hours, these buildings are usually heavily secured. Members may encounter many forcible entry obstacles when operating at fires in these occupancies. These obstacles can include, but are by no means limited to, the following:
Of the obstacles listed above, the roll-down security gate is one of the most common found in urban areas. These gates are usually on the street side of the structure and are often the first obstacle members encounter when trying to gain entry from the front. These gates must be opened first to gain access to storefront doors and windows to begin horizontal ventilation and to place hoselines into position. This article concentrates on the forcible entry techniques that can be used to gain access through roll-down security gates.
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