One of the most important but least talked about firefighting tools is the door chock (or door wedge). At almost every incident we respond to we are faced with the need to hold a door in the open position. The reasons for wanting a door open are numerous, but some of the more obvious are:

ü ventilation

ü stretching hose lines

ü removing victims (fires or ambulance assist runs)

ü moving equipment

ü keeping open a clear egress path

After a door is opened, or forced open, the entry of the initial firefighting team should not be our only concern. To ensure the safety of all our members, we must maintain the door open as both a means of entry and a means of egress when things get bad

Although there are commercially available door wedges and chocks on the market, the most inexpensive wedges are homemade easily cut from scrap wood. Although exact dimensions are not critical, an effective wedge should be approximately four inches long and one and a half inches wide.

The first firefighter or officer to enter a building should wedge open each door encountered en route to the fire, even non-self‑closing doors (remember the rest of the company with more equipment is behind you). Subsequent firefighters entering the building should check to ensure that each door remains wedged open.

The most effective way to wedge a door is to place the wedge on top of the bottom hinge, between the door and the jamb. By placing the wedge in this manner it is less likely to be kicked and dislodged by a passing firefighter, or knocked loose by a hose coupling. Also, and more importantly, by placing it low on the door, it can safely be removed if a quick exit is needed when heat and fire are venting through the top of the door opening.

If a piano hinge (a hinge running the entire height of the door) is found, the easiest way to hold it open is to place the wedge between the door and the top of the jamb. If a piano hinge is found on the door to the fire room, or area, Do Not use this method because when heat and fire blow out this door the wedge cannot be removed safely. In this situation place the wedge under the bottom of the door on the floor. Although not as effective, safety must be the main consideration.

Wedges tend to get left behind at an incident, so firefighters must constantly "reload to ensure they are available when needed. Keep a box or bucket of wedges handy so members can "reload" at the beginning of each shift. Also, keep some spares on the rig for immediate replacement.

Axes, Halligan bars, hand lights, or high‑rise hose packs are not chocking devices and should not be used for this purpose. Blocking open a door with any of these prevents their intended use. There will be times when "Murphy’s' Law" occurs and no wedges will be available. At times a doormat or crushed soda can will substitute for a wedge.

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Training Module Number: #130