John S. is a 62-year-old Army veteran and retired union member from Cleveland, Ohio.
On May 6, he was driving to work around 9:30 AM when he spotted smoke pouring from a two-story home on West 102nd Street.
A mother was standing outside, screaming.
She had managed to escape with one of her 11-month-old twins, but the other baby was still inside.
John sprinted to the side door and kicked it in.
But the smoke and flames were so intense that he was forced back.
He tried the back door next, dropping to his hands and knees to crawl beneath the smoke.
But he couldn’t find the baby.
He backed out and asked the mother: “Where is the child?”
She told him: “Next to the kitchen, by the baby gate.”
So, John went back into the flames.
The heat was unbearable…
His coughed and choked as his lungs filled with smoke…
He was about to retreat when he heard a baby’s cry.
He lunged forward, felt a tiny leg, and pulled the infant to safety.
Both twins survived that day thanks to John.
During urban disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes, and civil unrest, locked doors often stand between people and survival.
Knowing how to get through them could mean the difference between life and death.
So, here’s what you need to know about opening locked doors in an emergency.
Method 1: The Front Kick Method
This is the technique John used.
It’s fast, requires no tools, and works on most residential doors.
How to Do It:
Stand facing the door, about one leg’s length away.
Identify the weak point, this is almost always near the lock and door handle, not the hinges.
Chamber your leg by bringing your knee up toward your chest.
Drive your heel forward into the door, striking right next to the lock mechanism.
Use your hip to generate power, not just your leg.
If the door doesn’t open, repeat with increasing force.
Why It Works:
Most residential door frames are made of soft wood.
The lock’s strike plate is typically held by short screws that can’t withstand focused force.
A solid kick delivers several hundred pounds of force to a small area.
Limitations:
Steel doors, reinforced frames, and commercial buildings require different approaches.
Multiple deadbolts or security bars will make this method ineffective.
If you miss the target area, you’ll waste energy and may injure yourself.
Method 2: Pry Bar or Halligan Tool
This is the method firefighters use most often.
A pry bar, crowbar, or Halligan tool gives you mechanical advantage.
How to Do It:
Insert the flat end of the bar between the door and frame, right at the lock.
Create a gap by prying outward.
Once you have a gap, reposition the bar deeper into the space.
Apply steady pressure to force the door away from the frame.
The strike plate will eventually give way.
Why It Works:
Leverage multiplies your force significantly.
You’re attacking the weakest point of the door system.
The slow, steady pressure is often more effective than impacts.
Limitations:
You need to have a pry bar with you, which means carrying one in your vehicle or home.
It takes longer than kicking.
Requires more skill to use effectively.
Method 3: Breaking Glass
If a door has a window, or there’s a window nearby, sometimes the fastest entry is through the glass.
How to Do It:
Use a hard object like a window punch, hammer, or heavy flashlight.
Strike the corner of the glass, not the center: corners are weakest.
Clear all glass from the frame before reaching through or climbing in.
Cover the frame with a jacket or towel to protect against remaining shards.
Why It Works:
Glass is brittle and breaks easily when struck correctly.
Once broken, you can reach through to unlock the door or climb through the window.
Limitations:
Risk of serious cuts to hands and arms.
Creates a lot of noise, which may not be ideal in some situations.
Not every door or building has accessible glass.
What Stops These Methods:
Reinforced Strike Plates:
Standard strike plates have 1/2-inch screws.
Security strike plates use 3-inch screws that anchor into the wall studs.
These dramatically increase the force needed to kick in a door.
Steel Security Doors:
Solid steel doors won’t give way to kicks or standard pry bars.
These require specialized tools or cutting equipment.
In a fire, even firefighters may need to find alternative entry points.
Multiple Locks:
A door with a deadbolt AND a knob lock is harder to breach.
Each additional locking point increases security, and difficulty.
High-security homes may have multiple deadbolts, security bars, or reinforced frames.
Drawbacks to Forced Entry Skills:
Risk of Injury:
Kicking doors can result in ankle, knee, or hip injuries if done incorrectly.
Breaking glass creates sharp edges that cause deep cuts.
Entering a burning building exposes you to smoke, heat, and structural collapse.
Train to Use:
Reading about these techniques isn’t the same as being able to execute them under stress.
Consider practicing on junk doors or in controlled training environments.
Muscle memory matters when seconds count.
