San Diego County offering key safe boxes to help first responders get to residents in distress Creative Commons 2.0 and last updated 2020-12-19 12:50:05-05 SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- San Diego County Fire is offering some residents key safe boxes that allow first responders to gain access to homes in emergency situations, County News Center reports. The boxes, called KnoxBoxes, are installed on or near the front door and can only be opened by local firefighters responding to life-threatening emergencies, the county says. County Supervisor Dianne Jacob says the program fulfills an urgent need. âFor older folks with chronic health conditions or in need of help with basic activities, KnoxBoxes can be a lifesaver,â said Jacob. âThese devices can also provide some peace of mind in a region where wildfire is a year-round threat.â