By JAMIE C. MORELOCK
The halligan bar has been, without question, the most versatile fire service hand tool for the past six decades and can perform a multitude of fireground tasks, including forcible entry, ventilation, and overhaul. One ventilation technique progressive firefighters use involves attaching the halligan bar to a rope and swinging it through windows from the roof or the floor above the fire for horizontal ventilation. To simplify this technique, most fire companies weld a chain link, called the “roof ring,” to the bar’s shaft (handle) where it meets the fork. This ring serves as the rope’s connection point and is an option from some manufacturers, but it is usually added by a skilled end-user.
Some drawbacks with many of these rings include their small size and light weight. The link’s small size works well with the snap clip once common on utility ropes, but it prevents a connection with the larger carabiners that most fire departments currently use. Second, when forcing entry in limited space, you sometimes need to drive in the fork end by striking the fork’s small corners (shoulders) where they meet the shaft. Most roof rings are not substantial enough to withstand hard strikes and will most likely deform in a manner where the striking tool will glance off, delaying entry or, even worse, causing a firefighter injury.
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