Firefighters Get Spare Key With New Beachwood Lockbox Program

BEACHWOOD, OH — An application and a release form are all that separate Beachwood residents from a new residential lockbox program. The city says the program will expedite access into homes during emergencies, hopefully reducing property damage caused by forced entry into a house by emergency services.

“Often times in emergency situations people are not able to open their door,” said Mayor Merle S. Gorden in a statement. “The lockbox program will offer a faster and less costly solution than breaking down a door to help victims.”

To join the program, residents will need to pay a one-time $30 fee. In return, residents will receive a small, secure metal box that they can hang over their front door. Inside the box, residents will keep a spare key for first responders to access.

The box will only be able to be unlocked by a unique key that will be held only by the Beachwood Fire Department. Firefighters will be under strict orders to only make use of the lock box in the event of an emergency. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Beachwood newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Residents interested in taking part of the lockbox program will need to contact the Beachwood Fire Department at 216-292-1965. As previously mentioned, an application and release form will be required.

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