QUILCENE — Quilcene Fire Rescue has established a residential loaner key box program to expedite emergency responders reaching a patient and to minimize or eliminate damage to property by forcible entry.
“It’s unfortunate, but sometimes we get called by an elderly or injured resident who can’t unlock the door so our crews can begin treating them. We are then forced to either wait an extended length of time for a family member to arrive or we must force entry and potentially damage a door or window,” said Quilcene Fire Chief Larry Karp.
“These unfortunate situations can be avoided if the resident or their family put up a key box to allow the fire district access to assist when needed.”
The program is offered to residents of Jefferson County Fire District 2, which covers Quilcene, Dabob and Coyle.
The key box is a secure steel box in which a resident can place the key to his home for rapid access by fire department crews.
It is placed over the top of the front door; no other installation is needed.
Only on-duty Quilcene Fire Rescue personnel have the master key used to access the key box.
The residential loaner key box is available as a one-year loan subject to renewal, if necessary.
A security deposit of $50 will be returned to the resident when the box is returned to the fire district.
”Essentially, the program is free to residents with the small refundable deposit,” according to a news release form the fire district.
The residential loaner key box remains the property of Quilcene Fire Rescue and is to be returned to the fire district when the condition of the individual no longer warrants the use of the box.
The department has a limited supply of residential lock boxes available.
For info, call 360-765-3333 or stop in the administrative office at 61 Herbert St.
