Villa Park fire chief urges seniors to enroll in residential Knox keybox program

Fire Chief Steve Stapleton told the Villa Park Senior Concerns Commission on April 6 that the fire department’s residential Knox/keybox program — in place for roughly 20 years — helps emergency responders enter homes without breaking doors when residents have medical emergencies.

Stapleton, who identified himself as the fire chief and a 29-year department veteran, said the program provides loaner boxes for elderly or medically vulnerable residents and allows homeowners to purchase boxes directly. “If you’re an elderly person that lives at home … a key box is the best option,” Stapleton said.

The program’s purpose is to reduce forced entry damage and speed access when a resident cannot open the door. Stapleton described range of options and costs: an example residential key box shown at the meeting was priced around $250; commercial boxes in the department’s ordinance start at about $400–$450; lower-cost retail push-button or keypad products can be found for about $35–$40; and Stapleton said the department found a vendor offering durable boxes at roughly $50, which would allow the department to buy a larger inventory for loaning.

Stapleton described dispatch integration: door codes or keypad information can be submitted to the department’s CAD (computer-aided dispatch) notes so the code is encrypted in the dispatch system rather than announced over radio. “It’s all encrypted over our secure internet that we have connected to our dispatch center,” he said, adding that if a response vehicle lacks a computer, crews will contact dispatch by phone. He also asked homeowners to provide information about animals and any special instructions so crews can reduce the risk of pets escaping during an entry.

Commissioners asked whether residents with coded locks can simply provide the code; Stapleton confirmed codes may be emailed or called to the department and entered into CAD. He also cautioned that some garage-code systems have vulnerabilities and said residents should still secure interior doors when appropriate.

Stapleton said the department intends to expand the loaner program by ordering more of the lower-cost boxes and will coordinate outreach through the department’s public information officer. He said the department plans to film a short informational piece at the fire station for release online and encouraged commission members to distribute flyers in the senior newsletter and at community locations.

The chief gave instructions for residents who want to participate: the department will install loaner boxes or accept homeowner-purchased units and will collect emergency contact details and a waiver if a box is loaned. Residents interested in enrollment or purchases were directed to the department website form Stapleton named during his remarks.

The commission thanked Stapleton for the presentation and discussed practical outreach steps, including senior-newsletter distribution, flyers at the community center and Village promotional channels.

The presentation concluded with staff and commissioners arranging follow-up outreach plans; no formal action was required on the program at the meeting.