{"id":502935,"date":"2020-10-25T02:21:11","date_gmt":"2020-10-25T02:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/?p=502935"},"modified":"2020-10-25T02:21:13","modified_gmt":"2020-10-25T02:21:13","slug":"can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Fire Department Break into My House?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A fire has just started in your home. You quickly evacuate and call the fire department. They arrive in short order and then begin\u2026breaking into your house? Can firefighters really do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fire department can indeed smash through a window or break down a door to access and ventilate a burning building. In a case where your neighbor\u2019s house was burning but the fire had spread to your house, the fire department could \u201cbreak into\u201d the property as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll talk all about when, why, and how firefighters will access your burning house as well as the legalities of such.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll even discuss what you should do about the broken windows and\/or door after such an event. Keep reading!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: Nothing in this article is legal advice.\u00a0 If you are seeking legal advice on the legalities of firefighters entering a building, get an attorney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-660f67176e24d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-660f67176e24d\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house\/#Why_Would_the_Fire_Department_Break_into_a_House\" title=\"Why Would the Fire Department Break into a House?\">Why Would the Fire Department Break into a House?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house\/#How_Does_the_Fire_Department_Break_into_Houses\" title=\"How Does the Fire Department Break into Houses?\">How Does the Fire Department Break into Houses?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house\/#Is_It_Legal_for_a_Fire_Department_to_Break_into_a_House\" title=\"Is It Legal for a Fire Department to Break into a House?\">Is It Legal for a Fire Department to Break into a House?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house\/#What_to_Do_After_the_Fire_Department_Has_Left\" title=\"What to Do After the Fire Department Has Left\">What to Do After the Fire Department Has Left<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Would_the_Fire_Department_Break_into_a_House\"><\/span><strong>Why Would the Fire Department Break into a House?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, let\u2019s get some semantics out of the way. Technically, the fire department is breaking into your house, as they\u2019re entering without you necessarily granting them access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you can trust that your local firefighters are not breaking in for nefarious reasons as a criminal would. They\u2019re not trying to make off with your big-screen TV or valuable jewelry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does a fire department break into a house? Let\u2019s go over the reasons now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>To Put Out the Fire<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the biggest reason by far that firefighters will enter a property by breaking in. If it\u2019s a house fire, then the blaze is most likely indoors. To combat the flames, the firefighters need to get inside your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine what would happen if the fire department pulled up to your curb and asked you for the keys to the front door. There are so many reasons this is impractical and sometimes even impossible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/house-fire.jpg\" alt=\"home on fire\" class=\"wp-image-502939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/house-fire.jpg 924w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/house-fire-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/house-fire-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You and your other family members might not have the keys on your person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you did, there\u2019s no guarantee the key would fit into the door, which could have melted. Plus, this wastes so much valuable time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In firefighting, every second counts, so the fire department can\u2019t afford to get into the house the good, old-fashioned way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why the fire department will break into your home if it\u2019s on fire even if your neighbors called 911 because their home was the original source of the blaze.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>To Search for Victims in Need of Rescue&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The other reason a fire department has to break into a house, so to speak, is to gain quick access to who\u2019s inside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They have no time to finagle with a key ring and decide which key is for the front door and which is for the side door, not when there are people trapped inside the house.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The firefighters need to get into the home quickly so they can begin searching for the potential victims, however many of them there are.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether the firefighters help the victims out of the home personally or they provide a means for the victims to escape, the fire department wants to save as many lives as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That doesn\u2019t always exclusively mean human lives, either. You may remember our recent post on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/will-firefighters-rescue-pets\/\" target=\"_blank\">whether firefighters will save pets.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If all human victims are out of the blaze, then yes, the fire department will do their best to recover your precious dog, cat, or other pet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If they had to try to unlock the door to your home, the time they\u2019d spend doing this means they\u2019d lose time in rescuing victims, including your favorite four-legged friends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_the_Fire_Department_Break_into_Houses\"><\/span><strong>How Does the Fire Department Break into Houses?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A firefighter\u2019s job is to save lives first and preserve structures second. Once all the victims are out of the building, the fire department will focus on extinguishing the blaze rather than divide their attention between that and search and rescue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some homes can be saved and others can\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless, a firefighter will not hesitate to break into a home if they need to, even if this does detract from the quality of the property. This doesn\u2019t mean firefighters are intent on destruction, nor that they\u2019re reckless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the call is not considered an emergency, the fire department will try to thoughtfully enter the home or premises. Here are a few methods they\u2019ll use according to specific situations firefighters encounter often.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Turning the Power Off<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In an apartment complex or another multi-unit building where only the upper area is on fire, the fire department might start in the basement and try to prevent the spread of fire by powering down the building.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If they couldn\u2019t get into the electrical panel room, the firefighters might smash through a padlock or even remove the molding around the door using a small crowbar to gain access rather than break the door down outright.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shut-off-power.jpg\" alt=\"power lines and transformers\n\" class=\"wp-image-502940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shut-off-power.jpg 924w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shut-off-power-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shut-off-power-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then they could power down the complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In such a situation, the building owner would only need to mold the doorframe back or hammer some nails to secure the frame. This is very minor damage to the door, plus the building can be saved by controlling the fire early on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Breaking Garage Panes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What if there\u2019s a gas leak or a strong gas smell in a home or multi-unit building?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there\u2019s no fire raging, then the fire department will ask the homeowner if they can gain access to the garage. Provided the homeowner isn\u2019t available, such as being at work, then the fire department is left to their own devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, this is still considered a non-emergency, although that status can change at any time. The firefighters might get into the garage by breaking a garage pane or two.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then they can turn off the gas, ventilate the house, and prevent a fire. The homeowner would have to make several small, inexpensive repairs to their garage door.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kicking the Door In<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In more serious situations where the home or building is already on fire and the fire department needs immediate access, there\u2019s no time to waste.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some firefighters will kick the door down, using a mule kick technique to smash the door into two or more pieces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may not see this all the time from fire departments though because kicking the door in doesn\u2019t work quickly nor easily for all types of doors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, a firefighter could be wasting precious seconds and his or her own energy trying this.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Breaking the Door<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>More often, two firefighters will use a maul with a flat-head axe or a Halligan bar to break a door. A flat-head axe is a common firefighting tool that can smash through doors made of wood and other materials.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Halligan bar or tool is named for Hugh Halligan, the First Deputy Chief of the New York City Fire Department back in 1948.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/broken-door.jpg\" alt=\"broken door\" class=\"wp-image-502941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/broken-door.jpg 924w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/broken-door-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/broken-door-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He created the tool, which is still used to this day. With a Halligan bar, a firefighter can strike, punch, twist, or pry a door. This is due to the components of the tool, which include a pick with a tapered edge, an adze or wedge blade, and a fork, which is claw-like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a firefighter needs to break the latch of a door rather than the door itself, a Halligan bar can do that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of a swinging door, the firefighter would put the Halligan bar between the doorjamb and the door itself, separating the two. Then a second firefighter can use a flat-head axe or a sledgehammer to finish the job.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other duties of the Halligan bar are removing top hinges on doors or even breaking through walls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most Halligan bars are 18 to 54 inches long and made of stainless steel, beryllium copper, or titanium. You can add carrying rings or straps to make toting the Halligan bar easier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Smashing the Windows<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Breaking the windows of a home or building is a top priority for the fire department (*depending on the circumstances).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By opening all the windows forcibly, heat and smoke can exit the building, which can lessen the extent of the fire damage to your home. Ventilating in this manner can also be used as a strategy to send the smoke and heat away from a room or area of the house where victims are trapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fire department will use a Halligan bar, window punch, pike pole or a flat-head axe for breaking through windows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a word of warning, you should never try to help the firefighters along by opening the windows in a burning building. For one, this distracts from your first objective, which should always be to get out of the home as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, opening windows and ventilating a home during a fire must be timed properly in order to protect firefighters inside.&nbsp; If you open or break a window at the wrong time it can change the interior conditions and put firefighters in danger. Leave this job to the professionals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cutting a Hole into the Roof<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides creating ventilation by removing the windows, the fire department will also vent the roof by cutting a hole there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now there\u2019s yet another place for <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/is-smoke-flammable-a-firefighter-weighs-in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">smoke and heat to exit so the firefighters<\/a> can safely get into the building and do their job with more visibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"669\" src=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/vertical-ventilation.jpg\" alt=\"vertical ventilation\n\" class=\"wp-image-502938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/vertical-ventilation.jpg 924w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/vertical-ventilation-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/vertical-ventilation-768x556.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This form of ventilation is known as vertical ventilation, whereas breaking windows is horizontal ventilation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To penetrate the thick roof, firefighters will rely on an assortment of tools, often chainsaws, \u201cK-12s\u201d and cutters. By making a 4&#215;4 hole, the firefighter has 16 square feet of ventilation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A larger hole that\u2019s 6&#215;6 increases the hole to 36 square feet. Going too much bigger than that is often unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some critics of cutting holes into the roof of a home. Indeed, this method can waste valuable time, and a firefighter\u2019s life can sometimes be more at risk for doing it.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this video from a firefighter in Fresno\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fresno firefighter falls through roof of burning garage\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S7qL86HPqjo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_It_Legal_for_a_Fire_Department_to_Break_into_a_House\"><\/span><strong>Is It Legal for a Fire Department to Break into a House?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a moment to talk about the legalities of a firefighter entering your home, shall we?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re wondering whether you can turn a fire department away after you\u2019ve already called 911, to answer that, we bring up the story of Lisa Boyle from Orange County, New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2011, Boyle\u2019s son, who was 14 at the time, believed the chimney of their home was on fire, so he did the right thing and dialed 911. Boyle attempted to cancel the call but appeared to be unsuccessful.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local firefighters arrived, Boyle asked them to go, but they wouldn\u2019t until they inspected the property for any traces of fire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firehouse.com\/home\/article\/10633780\/fire-law-can-a-homeowner-just-say-no\">Firehouse.com<\/a>, which discussed this story, says this on the matter: \u201cProbably as much as any single issue, the legal duty of a fire department to respond to a fire distinguishes what we do as firefighters from what we do as emergency medical providers. To put it simply, a competent person may have the legal right to refuse medical treatment against medical advice, but a property owner (competent or otherwise) does not have a similar legal right to refuse firefighters the right to enter a property to look for the source of smoke, investigate an alarm or extinguish a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s the fire department\u2019s job to do those three things, and even outside of their occupational duties, if a firefighter were to get lax, they\u2019d potentially be liable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That same Firehouse article mentions that fire departments have a legal authority granted to them from localities and states to break into homes when needed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just residential properties firefighters can access in this manner, but businesses as well. That\u2019s the case even if the owner doesn\u2019t consent to the building or home being entered, such as the case of Lisa Boyle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_After_the_Fire_Department_Has_Left\"><\/span><strong>What to Do After the Fire Department Has Left<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your home was saved by your trusty fire department. You\u2019re glad, but the damage the firefighters caused by getting into your home is significant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The windows are broken, you may be missing a front door, and there could be a hole in your roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, most of this\u2013as well as the fire damage\u2013is usually covered under your homeowner\u2019s policy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How extensive your coverage depends on if you pay to protect detached structures (such as a detached garage or shed), just your home, or dwellings like an attached garage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it\u2019s not convenient to get new windows or a fresh front door, at the end of the day, this is small potatoes. You still have a home and a family who\u2019s all alive, and that\u2019s what matters most.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, firefighters have a legal and moral right to enter a home through any means necessary in a fire. The methods of entry include breaking down doors, smashing windows, and cutting a hole into the roof if the fire is serious.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might not always like this fact, but it\u2019s a crucial one. Besides, homeowner\u2019s insurance should pay for the damages later.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A fire has just started in your home. You quickly evacuate and call the fire department. They &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Can the Fire Department Break into My House?\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house\/#more-502935\" aria-label=\"Read more about Can the Fire Department Break into My House?\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":502937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can the Fire Department Break into My House? | FireFighterNow<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A fire has just started in your home. You quickly evacuate and call the fire department. 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