It’s a device used to pry open doors and otherwise break things.

It shares its name with fourth grade teacher Rick Halligan.

Firefighter Lt. Eric Conell held up the Halligan tool for the students as Firefighter Ben Waynar explained its use.

“Do we have a key to your house? No. This is the key to your house.” he said. “We get to break stuff and get paid for it.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Fort Dodge firefighter Ashley Jochum puts on her face mask Friday afternoon as she showed a group of Cooper Elementary School students the gear worn by the firefighters during a fire safety demonstration.

The Halligan tool is frequently used with another common tool, the pike head ax. It’s a combination of a sledge hammer and a spiked ax.

“They’re married, they’re best friends, they live together.” Waynar said of the way firefighters use the Halligan tool and the ax for many of the same tasks.

The firefighters gave a presentation adjusted to the age of each group of students who came outside and sat next to Engine 5. Each firefighter in the group took turns putting on turnout gear and demonstrating the hydraulic rescue tools they carry with them to remove crash victims from vehicles.

“Should we cut Mr. Hartley’s car apart?” Waynar asked, referring to Principal Bruce Hartley.

The students thought that was a great idea.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Landon Waynar, 6, of Fort Dodge, raises his hand to answer a question Friday afternoon during a fire safety presentation by the Fort Dodge Fire Department at Cooper Elementary. Waynar “borrowed” the hat from his dad, firefighter Ben Waynar.

“Yeah.” they shouted.

The firefighters declined the offer.

Waynar addressed something that’s very important for younger children – being afraid of a firefighter coming through the smoke to rescue them.

“Is this guy scary?” he asked one group, pointing to a fully suited fellow firefighter.

“Yes,” the students responded.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen During the fire safety demonstration by the Fort Dodge Fire Department at Cooper Elementary the school conducted an actual fire drill. The fourth grade students line up at their designated meeting point.

“Don’t be afraid of him,” he said. “He’s there to help you.”

Conell also talked to the students about calling for help.

“If you see a fire or somebody is hurt, who do you call?” he asked. “You dial 911.”

“What do you tell 911?” he asked. “Do you know your address? Tell them what the problem is.”

He also told them that it’s a good idea to have fire drills at home and what to do if there is a fire.

“Get out of the house, don’t go back in,” he said. “Pick a spot in your yard where you can meet.”

The staff and students at Cooper Elementary have taken that advice to heart. They have a set number of places where each class is to go in case of a fire.

They even got a chance to demonstrate that for the firefighters as the fire alarm was set off for a drill partway through the department’s fire safety demonstration.

Everyone got out fine.