Before the Breach is an intensive, hands-on training program designed to provide firefighters with a broad range of access, bypass, through-the-lock, and lock defeat techniques for both emergency and non-emergency incidents. This course teaches students how to identify lock and door hardware, understand lock anatomy, and select the most effective method to gain access while minimizing unnecessary property damage whenever possible.
Built around realistic fire service scenarios, students rotate through multiple skill stations focused on commercial doors, residential hardware, padlocks, electronic access control systems, lock cylinders, and specialized entry tools. The course emphasizes critical thinking, decision-making, and practical application through repetitive hands-on training.
Whether responding to a welfare check, alarm activation, commercial occupancy, or emergency incident, firefighters will leave with a broader toolbox of access solutions and a better understanding of when to bypass, manipulate, defeat, or force a locking system.


