CLEARFIELD – At Tuesday’s regular meeting, Fire Chief Elliott Neeper asked the Lawrence Township Supervisors to establish a knox-box ordinance for area businesses.
According to Neeper, businesses would be required to have key safes outside. He said this would allow rapid entry by area fire departments in case of an alarm. He said his request was prompted by a few area businesses having repeated false alarms. Neeper added that in one instance, it took a key holder two hours to arrive at the scene.
At that point, Supervisor Edward Brown asked if the township would be required to establish a knox-box ordinance, or if it simply needed to permit it. He indicated that he would not favor a blanket ordinance forcing all businesses to install knox-boxes. Supervisor William Lawhead was opposed to a blanket requirement as well.
Supervisor Glenn Johnston was more favorable to the idea of a knox-box ordinance, citing the increased legislation involved with fire protection. Because a knox-box costs $200, Johnston compared it to sprinkler systems and fire alarms and didn’t believe it was a huge investment.
Neeper said the fire department had requested that two area businesses install knox-boxes after a few false alarms. These businesses, he said, haven’t complied with the fire department’s request.
Solicitor James Naddeo said the township had immunity from liability in the case the knox-boxes ever resulted in a break-in. While on the topic, it was mentioned that an existing ordinance imposed fines for repeated false fire alarms; however, no one recalled the specifics of the ordinance. As a result, Naddeo was directed to review the penalties within the existing ordinance, as well as requiring businesses to have knox-boxes.