BY DONNY STEFANI
Many fire departments around the country face short-staffed firegrounds. We still have a job to do and often have to adapt to the situations we encounter. Making entry into a property protected by a chain and padlocked gate could create a challenging situation when only one firefighter is available. It is difficult for a single firefighter to use a padlock breaker (duck bill) or to insert a halligan into the lock's hasp and hit it with an ax, and it can cause an injury if the lock suddenly blows apart, the handle of the tool hits the firefighter, or the firefighter loses his balance while swinging.
Consider that the owner already has had some type of loss and that gaining entry to help reduce the loss shouldn't create more damage. Of course, after a proper size-up and if time permits, we could try a through-the-lock technique or attack the weakest part of the system. A method that benefits the firefighter and the owner is to cut the chain's link as close to the lock as possible instead of cutting the lock. First, it allows the property owner to re-secure the property after the incident. Second, some locks are very expensive, and it is good public relations to avoid property damage whenever we can.
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