Sycamore Fire offering loaner Knox Boxes

Sycamore Fire Department headquarters sign Sycamore, IL on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Fire Department is offering a Knox Box loan program for Sycamore residents to help save time in an emergency.

A residential Knox Box is a 4-by-5-inch safe-like device that is designed as a rapid entry system allowing emergency access for the fire department.

The Knox Box is installed over the top of a resident’s front entry door. An extra front door key provided by the resident is placed inside the Knox Box. The Sycamore Fire Department then secures the Knox Box with a unique key. Only the Sycamore Fire Department has this key, and it is securely located in the department’s fire apparatus. If an emergency arises, responding crews are able to enter the house without forcing entry or waiting for a key holder.

There are limited quantities of Knox Boxes (25) available for the program and they will be loaned on a first-come, first-served basis. All Knox Boxes purchased for the program are the property of the Sycamore Fire Department and as residents in the program no longer need the Knox Box, fire department personnel will retrieve them and place them back into inventory for future distribution.

The lending program was born out of a partnership with Family Service Agency and supported by the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

Those interested in applying for the Knox Box Loan Program or would like information on purchasing their own Knox Box, should contact Deputy Fire Chief Art Zern at 815-895-4514.