President Bob Wales and members of the Rotary Club of Melissa were on hand at this week's City Council meeting to present a check for $4,000 to the Melissa Fire Department in support of a new KNOX Home Box program being launched in the coming weeks.
Fire Chief Harold Watkins explained to those in attendance Tuesday night that "Out of 30,000 fire departments across the nation, Melissa is one of an estimated 100 departments utilizing a new product called a Home Box." These "boxes" are manufactured by the KNOX Company and are similar to the key safes used on commercial buildings. The key(s) are locked in the Home Box which is secured in a visible location to be seen by the fire department. The fire department holds the only key that can access the Home Box. This allows fire personnel to gain rapid access into the residence without causing property damage. These are most commonly used at homes where there are at-risk residents due to medical issues, falls, etc. They can also be used in cases where homeowners frequently travel out of town allowing fire personnel to enter the residence upon receipt of a fire alarm. 

A presentation was made this past spring to the Rotary Club informing them of the new product and how it would provide the fire department greater ability to reach those residents when it matters the most. Recognizing the importance of this program, Melissa Rotary promptly offered a donation to help launch this program and to provide home boxes to those most at-risk in our community."This partnership between the Melissa Fire Department and the Rotary Club has made it possible to purchase 30 Home Boxes," explained Chief Watkins. The fire department has identified a list of potential recipients and will make contact over the upcoming weeks to launch the new program. For questions regarding the Home Box Program, please contact Fire Chief Harold Watkins at hwatkins@cityofmelissa.com.