Halligan History

THE HALLIGAN: “THE MAXIMUM IN UTILITY, 

EFFICIENCY AND SPEED”

08/28/2014

By Rob Maloney

Introduced in 1948, the halligan tool found ready acceptance within a few years. See Fire Engineering’s September 1941 notice of Hugh A. Halligan’s promotion (“Halligan Deputy Commissioner”), the March 1948 story on its introduction (“New Multi-Use Forcible Entry Tool”), the July 1950 item on his recognition by Boston firefighters (“Chief Hugh Halligan Honored”), and the February 1953 notice of a proposed bill mandating that Massachusetts police cruisers carry the tool (“Halligan Tool Gets Nod”),

Below, FE contributor Mike Ciampo offers some more background.

The Halligan Tool and Hugh Halligan

When we think about the fire service and its evolution, we often look at certain things that had a vital impact on our tactical and safety performances. For example, the evolution of the self-contained breathing apparatus and today’s bunker gear, two vital pieces of equipment, has allowed us to better combat fire and hazardous conditions. When firefighters talk about tools, the halligan inevitably comes up. This forcible entry tool—created by a firefighter for firefighters—is perhaps the most widely used on firegrounds across the country today. Of course, manufacturers have updated, tweaked, and restructured it, but it still has the three major components of the fork, the pike, and the adz.

Hugh A. Halligan (1897-1987) was a firefighter with the FDNY for 43 years (1916-1959); he rose through the ranks from firefighter to first deputy commissioner. Chief Halligan was deeply concerned about creating a lighter and safer tool. At that time, firefighters were using a “claw tool” to force open doors, but numerous injuries resulted when the ax hit the rounded bow of the hook end of the tool. The ax would slide quickly to the side and hit the member’s arm or fingers. The Kelly tool was also used in FDNY, but it wasn’t the answer to all their needs.

Chief Halligan began a project to design a tool; he came up with one which had three workable ends (adz, pike, and fork), all of which could be driven by the ax. History has it that Chief Halligan started a mill and began producing these tools himself. He was a deeply religious man. On the fork of each original halligan tool, you would see his signature written in script on one prong and “AM t DG” on the other. The initials in Latin stood for “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” or “For the Greater Glory of God.” The small “t” in the center was supposed to symbolize a cross. Hugh was a devoted firefighter who often traveled to other departments on his own time to deliver the tool and teach the members how to use it.

As can be seen in the pages from Fire Engineering, the city of Boston was the first to purchase and place the tool on its apparatus. In 1950, Boston firefighters presented Chief Halligan with a certificate of merit “for his vision and ingenuity in developing an all-purpose tool, The Halligan Tool, which renders the maximum in utility, efficiency and speed and to Fire service operations involving forcible entry, emergency demolition and overhauling.”

Unfortunately, because of a conflict with New York City laws, the FDNY couldn’t purchase the tool until the legal issues had been resolved. While those issues were being worked out, numerous fire companies went directly to Chief Halligan’s home and bought their own tools to place on their apparatus, using their own money. At that time, the tool cost about $38.

The value of the original halligan tool can’t be understated—it was a clear improvement over the tools used before and was superior when it had to “be used for cutting, lifting, twisting, prying and wedging.” Even as the article stated back then, it enables firefighters to this day to lift skylights and scuttles and force doors and locks from residential to commercial occupancies. Although the tool may have been retrofitted or redesigned by many manufacturers, its basic concept of three workable ends continues to uphold its value to the fire service. In addition, it has help countless numbers of firefighters do battle on the fireground and emergency scene every day.

Healthy Breakfast For Busy Schedules

Make A Week’s Worth Of Healthy Egg Breakfast Sandwiches in 15 Minutes

I stumbled across this brilliant little idea on Amy's Kitchen Creations where you can easily make these awesome egg breakfast sandwiches for an entire week in 15 minutes. Sort of like McDonald's Egg McMuffins. The eggs will be ready to go each morning. Just grab your english muffin or bread of your choice and you are ready to go!! So easy and quick. Perfect for large families too!

Directions

1. Spray your muffin pan with some non-stick cooking spray.

2. Throw in Spinach if desired (the spinach sticks right to the cooking spray..no floating)

2. Crack one egg into each well.

3. Sprinkle the eggs with a little salt & pepper or whatever seasonings that you’d like.

4. Bake in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes.

5. You could cook them for a bit less if you wanted a runny yolk.

Storage

Store your cooked eggs in a Tupperware container in the refrigerator for about a week. Use your judgement though. If they look/smell bad, I wouldn’t eat them. If you can’t get to them in a week then freeze them. I haven’t tried this myself, but I heard it works just fine.

Reheat

1. Toast your English Muffin or bread of choice

2. Microwave your eggs for 30-45 seconds (microwave times vary)

3. Enjoy a tasty breakfast in less than a minute (maybe longer depending on how long it takes for the muffin to toast)

More Ideas And Options

• Use Egg Beaters Egg Whites (low calorie/low fat option). One 16oz carton fills 10 out of 12 muffin cups
• Add Ham slices
• Add broken up cooked bacon to the top
• Scrambled eggs work too!!
• Add diced green pepper, onions, bacon bits, and shredded cheese (Just don’t fill the cups too full if you want it for a sandwich.)
• Replace the spinach with tiny broccoli pieces
• Sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top while still hot
• Put a little cream cheese on your English muffin

Thinking outside the box for training....do we need a gym?  

What if I can't afford a membership?

This is a shot of a street in any neighborhood. At first glance, there’s nothing here of any value to anyone training, aside from a sidewalk that can be used to pound just to up the mileage. But let’s take a closer look, because I see something very different. First of all, my eye is drawn to that painted green metal frame that houses what I assume is a water/pump valve. That’s the perfect height for vaulting over. It’s also ideal for putting my feet on and doing raised push-ups. What about holding it on either side and doing side jumps over it? Say, 20 jumps each side without stopping?

Then I see a tree. How about running up to the metal box, vaulting it and then back-dodging the tree in the style of an NFL player side-stepping a tackle? Further along is a tree stump. About the ideal height for some box jumps, wouldn’t you say? How about taking a leap over it from a running start? If I fall, the soft grass around it will mean I won’t lose my skin on the asphalt. Again, I can do raised push-ups on there. If someone holds my feet and legs, I can do sit ups by hanging over the edge of it to increase the resistance. So there’s my core workout.

Further along, there’s another tree and the branches are tantilizingly out of reach. Want to bet me I can’t get up that tree and through that fork those branches are making? Maybe I can hold on to the branch limb and throw out a few pull-ups, too.

Jump down and I have another tree. How about another sprint towards it and another last minute side-step spin away?

Then there’s that curb. It’s uneven and is beckoning me to run along it with one foot higher than the other, each on a different level. I could run along that, sometime a foot on either level, sometimes both on one, sometimes both on another. I’d have to concentrate hard on my footing, making sure my balance is in control. Core and balance marrying together while I get a sweat on while running.

So let’s recap. I can run up to the metal box, vault it, run past the tree while doing a quick side-step while showing it my back, I run back around, grab the box with both hands and bring my feet over it 20 times each side. I sprint towards the stump and jump it, I throw out 20 quick push-ups or 20 sit ups if someone is there to hold my feet down. I stand back up, do some box jumps and then sprint towards the next tree and get through the branch forks, then again on the next one. I spin around and retreat back to the start using the curb as uneven footing, forcing me to pay attention to what could be slippery grass/mud on one level and hard concrete/asphalt on the other.

I could do that and in actual fact, I often do. There’s an entire obstacle course literally outside my front door. I won’t have spent a single penny and I have a gym 20 feet from my front door. A gym that targets cardio, legs, core, arms and balance.

So now let’s look at that picture again. Now look outside your house. Is there a gym or obstacle course there? Have another look. I bet there is. Get training. Use what you see around you. The course you will set out to conquer won’t be a clean, precise and sterile gym. It’ll be uneven, slippery, and dirty. Get comfortable with those conditions and we will see you achieving your goals!!