Engine Company Door Control: Chocking the Door

"As the first line goes, so goes the fire"

The attack hose line has been stretched off the engine, and sufficient hose has been flaked-out at the fire area. All personal protective equipment (PPE) is in place, and firefighters are ready to make an aggressive interior attack on the fire. A fireground basic that is often overlooked is the chocking of doors; which if left undone can create disastrous conditions for firefighters.

Firefighters must chock all doors that a hose line passes through. Hand lines being stretched dry to the fire area may easily become snagged under a door that has not been chocked open.

When the line is charged with water, the hose will become tightly jammed under the door, causing a restricted water flow and the inability of the attack line to advance or retreat.

This is an extremely dangerous position for the nozzle team to be in.

A charged hose line moving through a door that has not been chocked open can also become snagged, endangering firefighters advancing the handline.

Firefighters must always carry several door wedges or chocks.There are several types of chocks available, the most common being the wooden wedge.

The wedge is inexpensive to make, lightweight, and stackable. Another style is the hang on the hinge type of chock which may be commercially available or fashioned by firefighters.

Chocks should be placed low, either on the floor or on a lower hinge. Avoid placing the chock at the top of the door. In the event of a water loss emergency or a wind driven fire condition, the door to the fire area will have to be closed. If the door chock is placed high on the door, the firefighter removing the chock will have to stand up and be exposed to high heat and possible flame, and could fail to get the door closed.

In a pinch, items that are at hand may be used to chock a door if a firefighter has run out of chocks. For example: a folded up newspaper, a loose rug, or a door mat could be used to hold the door. Always check that the wedging item used is firmly in place and that the door will remain open. 

Are firefighters assured of an unimpeded advance through doorways with the attack line? They are when they take a few seconds to chock all doors in the path of the hoseline. This will help us to quickly and safely advance or remove the attack line. Remember, the objective is to get water on the fire as fast and as safely as possible.