New Training Door Gives Charlton Crews More Hands-On Practice

Charlton, Mass. — September 15 — The Charlton Fire Department has recently installed a new forcible entry training door at its station, providing firefighters with an on-site tool to hone the techniques they use to gain access to buildings during fires and other emergencies. 

According to the department, Paul LaRochelle, owner of Forcible Entry Door System ( FEDS), built and installed the training door. The system enables firefighters to repeatedly practice forcible entry on both inward- and outward-swinging doors, exploring various techniques and scenarios. 

Forcible-entry training props are built to replicate the resistance firefighters face when breaking into locked doors. Comparable systems can support various door setups and enable crews to train using forcible-entry tools in a controlled setting.