In the case of an emergency, response time matters and minutes can mean a world of difference.

And on an island where many properties serve as seasonal residences or vacation rentals, the Captiva Island Fire Control District recommends installing a Knox Box to provide crews with quick access.

“A Knox Box is a residential, rapid access system that allows us to have quick easy access to a key to your residence,” Fire Chief Jeff Pawul said, noting that it works similar to key boxes for Realtors.

“It’s a secure box that gets locked up,” he said, explaining that property owners can store their house key, garage key and any other keys inside the box for crews to access in the case of an emergency.

“The unique way is the way that it opens,” Pawul said. “Only the fire districts — us, Sanibel — have access to it. We have a special coded key that we carry in our vehicles that can open the box.”

“It provides us a fast and secure way to access your home,” he added.

Pawul explained that the product started on the commercial side to provide emergency crews with access to businesses after hours, but it has since been adapted to include the residential market.

“In any emergency that we need rapid access to your home,” he said.

Not just for vacant properties, Pawul cited an example of a person home with a medical emergency.

“They may not be able to unlock and open a door to let us in. You may not be able to get up, for whatever reason,” he said. “The only option for us at that point is to force our way into the home, and we know that can get expensive. It can get costly, and it takes extra time.”

“It doesn’t matter it it’s a fire, it doesn’t matter if it’s medical, it doesn’t matter if it’s after a hurricane,” Pawul added. “The quicker we can get in, the better. The more secure that solution is, the better.”

However, with so many rental properties and vacation homes and units on the island, the district advised that it will not respond to open the box in an instance where a renter simply got locked out.

“We will not be doing that,” he said.

The easiest way to purchase a Knox Box is through the company’s website. Visitors must pick their state of residence and then enter “Captiva Island Fire Control District” as their local fire agency.

“Then you can go right into the page with all the options,” Pawul said.

There are different models to choose from.

“The difference is in the way of where you mount it,” he said.

When a box is ordered, the district receives a notification to approve it. Pawul explained that Knox Box is a national company, so the process ensures that the district has the key to unlock that box.

“We go in and approve it, and it gets shipped,” he said.

Pawul noted that installation will be the property owner’s responsibility.

“We don’t actually install them on your home,” he said, explaining that after the box is installed, the district will come out and open the box, so the property owner can put the selected keys inside it.

To purchase a Knox Box, visit https://www.knoxbox.com/Products/Residential-KnoxBoxes.

For more information or assistance ordering a box online, contact Pawul at 239-472-9494 or jpawul@captivafire.com. People can also stop by the fire station, at 14981 Captiva Drive, Captiva.

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