Volunteers spread fire safety in York

Red Cross staff and volunteers flocked to PeoplesBank Stadium for more that just a free lunch.

They came to spread the word about fire safety and offer free smoke detectors and installations.

The event, part of the American Red Cross' Home Fire Campaign, was one of 66 United Way Day of Action events in the county involving 900 volunteers, according to Zachary Reynolds, United Way volunteer center coordinator. The 150 volunteers in the fire campaign installed smoke detectors and handed out fire safety literature to homes in York City. 

As she has for years, Krista Spillman, owner of Loving Memories Photography in Emigsville, was on hand to document the day in photographs. 

"Without the community, I wouldn't be here," she said, sporting a couple of cameras. "Every day the focus is the community."

After lunch, teams armed with a bucketful of smoke alarms, drills and hardware were dispatched around the city to knock on doors and find those in need of smoke detectors. They spent about four hours at it, installing 675 devices.

Stephanie Dorsey's North Broad Street home got four of them.

"I like it," she said. "It's a great idea."

Volunteer Amy Stout and her Harley-Davidson co-workers formed a team and got a paid "holiday" to work with the campaign.

"It's a nice day. We're helping the community. It's a win-win," she said.