Port Chester Volunteer Firefighters Kick Off Fundraising Campaign

Over the next few weeks, Port Chester and Rye Brook residents will find a message on their front door from , seeking  support in the effort to keep the community safe.

The volunteers are conducting a fundraising campaign, distributing packets that include a donation appeal letter and a fire safety card for each family's use. The card encourages home "Exit Drills," in which residents are reminded to have a plan for escaping their home in case of a fire.

Firefighters say that a few minutes spent on a fire drill at home — along with making sure your smoke detectors are in working order — can save lives in case of a fire.

The fundraising program supports the efforts of the volunteers who make up the bulk of the Port Chester Fire Department. Last year, Port Chester firefighters say they added more than 40 new volunteers to the department — the largest single increase in recent memory.

Port Chester volunteer firefighters say residents have been strong supporters of the fundraising effort in previous years.