Residential Properties: Voluntary Home Lock Box Program
For single or two family homeowners and other residential tenants, emergency access should ideally be as fast and non-destructive as possible. The department offers a Voluntary Residential Lock Box Program to help protect community residents.
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How It Works: Residents obtain and place a small, highly secure key box keyed to the departments system on their property (such as hanging over the front door or mounted near an entry point) containing a house key.
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Emergency Peace of Mind: If you call 911 for a medical emergency, fall, or alarm and are unable to unlock the door, responding medical personnel and firefighters can access the house key directly. This saves critical tome during a medical crisis while avoiding property damage.
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Senior S.A.F.E. Assistance: No senior should have to worry about emergency access. Through the Senior S.A.F.E. (Senior Safety Education & Intervention) program, the Fire Department provides assistance—including free or low-cost lock boxes and installation support—for local seniors who need one please contact us for more information.
Need a Box or Have Questions?
Commercial property owners needing location approval, or senior residents interested in assistance through the Senior S.A.F.E. program, can contact the Fire Prevention Office at 978-597-8150 with any questions or email fireprevention@townsendfire-ems.org.
Residents wanting to purchase a lock box on their on can obtain one here: Order Your BOX Online When ordering please make sure to select the Townsend Fire Department prior to checkout. This will ensure that your box is keyed to our secure system.
Commercial Properties: Rapid Access Box Requirement
Under the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (527 CMR 1.00, Chapter 18), commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and multi-family residential structures are required to install an approved fire department access box system.
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How It Works: Property owners install an exterior, heavy-duty rapid-entry box (commonly referred to as a Knox Box) near the primary building entrance in a location designated by the Fire Department. The property owner with assistance from the fire department secures keys inside, including main entry keys, fire alarm panel keys, sprinkler room keys, and elevator keys.
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Why It’s Required: When an alarm triggers after business hours or during an emergency, firefighters can gain immediate access to inspect the facility and control hazards without causing expensive forced-entry damage to doors or glass.
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Security: Access is strictly controlled. Only authorized Fire Department personnel possess the secure key to open the box.
- Lock boxes can be obtained here: Order Your Commercial Box Online Please contact us with any questions.
