The back way only opens once you've turned off the valve, so I don't think that's an option. But yes the fire resist and absorb to the max with luck on save rolls will help. I'll have to take off FF next time I glided into them to easily when I tried, I didn't notice the top ones but I'm sure they didn't help.
I do have the Raising the Phoenix ability coming soon, that will all me to rez fallen comrades.