Wood County fire departments pursue Knox Box grant

Five Wood County municipalities are joining together to pursue a grant that will help modernize the Knox Box system.

A Knox Box contains a key to allow first responders to access a residence or a building during an emergency.

If the grant is received, the boxes will be switched to electronic keys, which will allow all fire and police departments in the region immediate access, said Perrysburg Township Fire Chief Tom Brice.

“This is a regional application in conjunction with Northwood, Rossford, Perrysburg, and Lake Township,” he said. “We’re attempting to get funding to switch all our community-wide Knox Boxes that are on our businesses and some of our residences that give us access.”

Northwood is the lead applicant for the Assistance to Firefighters grant through the fire and safety prevention program.

“If we go to a fire in Perrysburg, and we get there first, we can potentially access the Knox Box in the city,” Chief Brice said at the April 10 township trustees meeting. “This has pretty much become the standard for fire departments across the country.”

If awarded, the grant requires a 5 percent match. The township share would be $4,849, he said.

The trustees unanimously approved applying for the grant.