How to open hoods.

[Guest Rich DD]

I would like to know what if any techniques there are out there for opening hoods from car fires?

In my fire district, (volunteer), I have the guys pull the partner saw and cut a V in the hood around the locking mechanism.

At work at an extrication, when its not possible to reach down to pull the hood release we use the spreaders, or cutters. This techniques waists no time in locating the hood latch, possibly causing more injury to the patient.

So... what do you do on your Truck, or Engine to open the hood on a vehicle fire?

[Remember585 815]

Good topic, we pretty much do the same things, it beats manual labor.

One thought, if it is an engine compartment fire you can take the adz end of the halligan, drive it through the hood and pull it up enough to get the knob in there. Using a tight fog or even a reduced straight stream to cool it down works good and with the steam hitting the inside of the hood and dripping back down on the engine block you get more use from your water.

Also, we carry the Holmatro HCT3120 on our Engine, and we have become fairly proficient in it for popping hoods. It's a great tool, here's a link of info to it.

Lastly, we used to have this thing known as the "Trick Tool," which was a piece of garbage. I believe the first time we used it the stupid thing bent so we threw it into the back room where all the "great idea / crappy design" stuff ends up.

[Guest]

On car fires, we do not open the hood until the fire has been knocked down. This is because some hoods have gas struts that could explode. So we use the tenting technique described above with the Haligan. This keeps the hood down as a shield. And, all you need is a litte space to get water into. The other advantage of this technique is that it forces you to work from the side of the vehicle rather than in front where you can be exposed to exploding bumpers and inside the hood struts.

Another technique is to drive the pick end into the hood. Turn the tool around and pry down. It gives you a large enough hole in the center of the hood to get water into. The hole is small, but it works and it keeps you working from the side of the vehicle.

After the fire is knocked down and the engine cooled a bit, then we open the hood.

[DOC22 1]

On car fires, we do not open the hood until the fire has been knocked down.  This is because some hoods have gas struts that could explode.  So we use the tenting technique described above with the Haligan.  This keeps the hood down as a shield.  And, all you need is a litte space to get water into.  The other advantage of this technique is that it forces you to work from the side of the vehicle rather than in front where you can be exposed to exploding bumpers and inside the hood struts.

Another technique is to drive the pick end into the hood.  Turn the tool around and pry down.  It gives you a large enough hole in the center of the hood to get water into.  The hole is small, but it works and it keeps you working from the side of the vehicle.

After the fire is knocked down and the engine cooled a bit, then we open the hood.

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This is pretty much the way we do this operation as well. djonker brought up one VERY good comment about working from the SIDES of the vehicle, due to the potential for the bumper mounts to explode. I don't know the number, but firefighters are injured every year from this.

[Guest]

I've seen the method with the halligan done at drill, and it works very well. You can get a pretty decent gap between the hood and the frame of the car by prying it up after digging the pick end into the hood and then pushing up (kind of like opening a big can with a big can opener).

[x635 4,066]

Some great insight on this thread. It seems like there's a variety of techniques to apply in a variety of situations.

In my fire district, (volunteer), I have the guys pull the partner saw and cut a V in the hood around the locking mechanism.

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And here's a photographic example of that technique. This vehicle was involved in a pin with major intrusion, and all other tools were being used to extricate the patient.

[attachmentid=1832]

Edited January 3, 2007 by x635