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Post by district5 on Nov 18, 2002 12:45:03 GMT -5
This morning E23 & T23 were dispatched to a fire alarm at a business. When asked if the key holder was responding... they were notified that the key holder was coming from Dayton Ohio!
In many suburban communities they use "Knox Box" or some type of lock box that fire companies can access keys to the business using a code supplied by the dispatcher.
Why is this system not widely used in Cincinnati? Is it due to the older construction and lack of business choosing to install the boxes in old buildings? Or does CFD have some type of limitations that does not allow them to use this system?
Sure seems like a great idea to save CFD companies the headache of being out of service waiting for the key holder and save the key holder a long trip at 2am.
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Post by district5 on Nov 18, 2002 23:01:07 GMT -5
The KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System is a secure, rapid entry program specifically developed for the fire department. With one master key, you can gain access to commercial and residential property. More than 6,500 departments nationwide use Knox key boxes and vaults, Haz-Mat cabinets, key switches, and padlocks. Many of these departments use Sentralok(tm), the master key security system, to control their master key. Property owners in your community store entrance keys, access cards and floor plans in high-security Knox-Boxes mounted near their building entrances. Each KNOX-BOX purchased by the property owner is keyed to a single Knox® Master Key controlled by your department.
With the Knox System, there is no cost to the fire department, no waiting for a property owner to unlock the door in the middle of the night, and no forcing the door open to gain entry. The Knox Rapid Entry System reduces response time, property damage and the liability for lost keys.
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Post by CincyFire on Nov 19, 2002 8:19:21 GMT -5
CFD does use the Knox Box system, only it's not called a Knox Box. CFD uses the Safe Entry Program, SEP. Upon dispatch to an alarm or fire or I even believe EMS runs, dispatch will notify the companies that "this building participates in the Safe Entry Program". The concept is the same though, a key box is mounted on the outside of the building next to the main entrance, usually, and master keys are kept inside. CMHA buildings, I have noticed, have larger key boxes inside, which are labeled as "Knox Boxes" with a vast array of keys for that particular CMHA building. But just like the Knox Box program, not everyone participates, and you cant make everyone participate. Hope this answers your question.
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Post by wefr15 on Dec 1, 2002 20:52:49 GMT -5
Four of the apartment buildings that I am the Regional Manager for have the safe entry system and on dispatches the Com Center never states that the "buildings participates in the Safe Entry Program" I have gone thru the people who sell the program and even to the communications center to get them them to add this to the building information, but I have given up trying to get them to state the buildings participate in the Safe Entry Program.
Other than that the system works very well, all my buildings are controlled access buildings, and we have staff on site, at 2:00 am when the engine responds for a call and the come in silent, the staff may not even know that the FD is there.
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JERAIS
Lieutenant
Over 27 years on the CFD. Promoted FAO 1982. Assigned to Engine Co. 21 1/86
Posts: 13
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Post by JERAIS on Dec 2, 2002 8:08:43 GMT -5
wefr15,
This information is given when the Com. Center has a premis history attached to that location. To get the attachment a DC must submit the information. Although, any company on the first alarm already knows, and any move up companies can see the SEP box if located in a conspicuous place. To get a premis history for your buildings, I suggest you speak to the officer of the first responding company. Hope this helps.
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