A knox box is a small vault that holds a key to a residence or business which can be accessed only by emergency personnel. In Sherman, the only keys which can open these vaults are carried on our apparatus. In order to access this master key, a first responder must enter a personalized PIN code which mechanically releases the key and electronically logs the date and time that the key was removed, who removed it, and when it was returned. This log is reviewed on a monthly basis to prevent any unauthorized use of the key.

To participate in the program a homeowner or business owner can go to the Knoxbox web site and place an order for the box that best suits their needs. The knox homebox, https://www.knoxhomebox.com/, was specifically designed for residential use and is not intended for commercial applications. For commercial locations, orders must be placed from https://www.knoxbox.com/. When an order is placed, the fire department is notified of the address that the box will be installed. Once the box arrives and is ready to be put into service then the fire department is contacted so that they can come out and secure the key in the box. From that point forward the resident no longer has access to that key. If the locks are changed for any reason the fire department must be notified so that a new key can be placed in the box.

In Sherman, the entire process can be done online and the only reason to notify the fire department is when the box is ready to have the key secured. Another point to note is that the master keys for Sherman will only open vaults in Sherman and will not work in any other town.