SACO — It’s an emergency situation, the front door is locked, and paramedics need to enter the home immediately.

Rather than knock down the door, there’s a better way to get inside.

A key to the home can be stored in a key vault which only the fire department can access near the main entrance.

The key vaults, or Knox HomeBoxes, is a recent product of the Knox company, which has made key vaults for commercial buildings for more than 40 years.

The Saco Fire Department has a master key which opens any Knox HomeBox installed in the city, said Dep. Fire Chief David Pendleton. Though other communities in the area have similar programs, the Saco Fire Department can’t open key vaults installed in other municipalities and vice versa, he said.

The key vaults are made of reinforced cast zinc and powder coated for weather resistance and have a limited lifetime warranty, according to information from Knox.

Pendleton noted that more elderly people are trying to stay in their homes as long as possible, and a number of elderly people who live alone or are home alone during the day.

“If the person is in distress and the fire department is summoned to their address, we can quickly and conveniently get inside the home to render aid” if they have a key vault, he said.

To purchase a Knox HomeBox, go to knoxhomebox.com or call 855-438-5669. Prices start at $159. The fire department will be notified if someone in the city purchases a key vault, Pendleton said. Once the key vault is installed, the fire department will visit the home and lock the entry key in the HomeBox, he said. If a homeowner needs help with installation, they can call the fire department.

Those in other communities who want to know if their community participates in the Knox HomeBox program can go to the website listed above.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].