Fort Myers firefighters use Knox Boxes to speed emergency access, protect property

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

The Fort Myers Fire Department is using Knox Boxes, a secure box that holds keys for a business or home, to save firefighters time and save you money.

The Gulf Coast Humane Society has implemented a Knox Box system to provide firefighters with quick access to the facility during emergencies, ensuring the safety of the animals inside.

"Somebody having to break in and put out flames is very scary to those animals. So having access at all times is just very vital to making them feel secure and at home," said Kristin Sampson, operations director at the Gulf Coast Humane Society.

"My biggest worry is about the animals here at all times. If a fire starts, animals can't get out, and firefighters can't get in," Sampson said.

In emergencies, every minute counts, and the Knox Box provides a solution.

"The Knox Box allows us to still secure the premises overnight but allow those emergency personnel to enter our organization in case of a fire to save as many lives as possible," Sampson said.

The Knox Box system is also available for residential use.

Rick Reynolds, fire marshal for the Fort Myers Fire Department, explained how it works: "The Knox Box would come to the person who ordered it unlocked, and they would mount it. Then they call us, and I would send one of my fire inspectors out. They have keys, and then they would get the key from the owner, put it in a box, and lock it."

Each key is unique and remains under the protection of the fire department.

"They stay secure in the fire engine for ladder trucks," Reynolds said.

The Knox Box system saves firefighters crucial seconds during emergencies and can even save property owners money.

"They really are time savers and money savers for the owners because we're not going to tear up something, and they're not going to break a window," Reynolds said.

Designed for security, the boxes are built to withstand tampering.

"They're indestructible. You can rip it off the wall, but you still don't get into it. You just now have a box you can't get into. So, a lot of times the boxes are mounted flush, mounted into the building. So you couldn't even get it out of the building," Reynolds said.

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