City approves lock boxes to improve fire safety

SAULT STE. MARIE — The City of Sault Ste. Marie is standardizing the use of Knox Boxes to help families and businesses with fire safety.

At the Sault City Commission meeting on July 1, commissioners passed an ordinance to force buildings in the city to comply to International Fire Code by installing a Sault Fire Department approved lock box called a Knox Box.

The box would contain a key to the building as well as necessary keys to things like internal elevators or anything a firefighter would need to access in an emergency.

The purpose behind the box is to save time during emergencies by not forcing firefighters to use tools to break down doors. In addition to saving time during a dangerous situation, the box would also save money for building owners by eliminating the cost of replacing and repairing the door and door frame, which would otherwise be destroyed.

"If you have five people show up at a fire, you don't want two of those people spending time opening a door when one person can do it with a key," said Sault Fire Chief Ed Miller. "From the smallest incidents to the biggest ones, there is a benefit to having this in our buildings."

The fire department will have a universal key to access all of the boxes, which will be guarded closely at the fire house by qualified individuals.

While these boxes have been around in Sault Ste. Marie for a while, because they were not required by ordinance, it was difficult for the city to enforce their installation and upkeep. By approving the ordinance, the enforcement of the boxes is specified and recorded instead of being up to the discretion of the current fire chief.

"This ordinance brings some consistency to how the code is applied and will alleviate some of the confusion about enforcement," said Miller.

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The approved Knox Box would cost owners between $367 and $437 based on differences such as color and finish.

The box will be required by all commercial buildings and residential buildings with more than two units. Building owners have been given three years to comply and install their box. Any new construction must have plans to include a Knox Box.

"Part of this ordinance is education," said Miller. "Most people didn't know about the benefits of the Knox Box and we're giving them some time to learn about it."

In 2024 alone, the fire department has used the Knox Box system 190 times in Sault Ste. Marie.

— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com