[clone1018]

As a volunteer firefighter in Pennsylvania the halligan is generally the tool I reach for when doing interior operations. Besides the obvious uses of breaking a door in / breaking glass, it actually can be used for near anything. Searching for a victim, poking small holes in the wall to check for fire extension, using it as a ladder to get out of a tall window, etc. I haven't found much personal use in carrying an axe in, but a common set of tools is called "irons" which is your halligan and a flat head axe.

For forcible entry the halligan is _the_ tool to use, check out how quickly it can pop a lock when combined with a flat head axe and a k-tool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCAcCuLKE4

Exterior is a completely different story, where the pike pole or pike pole + multitool really shines. You'll use it to check the roof for stability, poke holes to find extension, and after cutting a hole using it to open up the roof and poking your way through the drywall / insulation.

Bunch of very interesting tools (both conventional and unconventional) that firefighters use can be found here: http://www.vententersearch.com/tips.htm

[TomMasz]

There aren't many things you can't open with a Halligan bar as long as you don't care how much damage you do.

[dreamcompiler]

But as my chief taught us back in our newbie days, "Before you swing the Halligan, try the doorknob."

This has turned out to be excellent advice.

[sklargh]

This, a Halligan and a thermal imager were my go-to for interior operations.

[bombcar]

Amusingly enough they're opening a lock on a glass door - I can think of faster ways than the halligan for that heh.

[drewzero1]

True, maybe faster, but there are considerations other than speed at play. Responders have to make decisions quickly about the best way to gain entry depending on the situation. Paraphrasing from the NYC Fire Department forcible entry guide, discussed here[0] earlier this week:

- Broken glass creates an additional safety hazard for rescue workers, people being rescued, and people cleaning up afterward.

- Breaking the glass would greatly increase cost of repairs for the building owner/insurance (professionalism)

- A door without the glass is harder to secure afterward ("Who will provide security for the occupancy after you leave?")

0: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32546810

[Acidium01]

Also a volunteer firefighter here, if possible (and especially if not during an active structure fire) we try to keep property damage to a minimum. So it maybe that we could cause less damage to the door than breaking the window which is not always a guarantee. But always try (opening) before you pry (it open).