Over the years, fire departments have been known to raffle off turkeys, motorbikes, firearms and even cold, hard cash. And while some departments have given away gear, such as helmets, not many have raffled off an apparatus.
But that's what a Pennsylvania fire company is offering with a raffle it's touting as a great way for a rural department to acquire a solid piece of equipment.
"I've gotten some messages from people saying, 'What are you guys thinking?'" Liberty Fire Company Capt.Sam Detweiler told WNEP-TV. "But honestly, it's a good truck, and we're going to give it a shot."
The department in Schuylkill Haven had originally decided to simply sell its 1992 Pierce Arrow Pumper, which can haul as much as 1,000 gallons of water.
"We had this apparatus for sale three months ago, and it's been for sale ever since," Assistant Chief Aaron Schimpf told WNEP. "I think because of the pandemic, fire companies are just not interested in making an investment at this time, so we decided to raffle the truck."
The department is only selling 250 raffle tickets at $100 apiece for a chance to win the apparatus. Many of the tickets have already been sold, with some purchases coming from as far away as Oregon.
"The reason we're raffling it off is because we're consolidating due to being awarded a grant this past year," Schimpf told WNEP. "We're expecting a delivery of a new engine in approximately three weeks."
The pumper's specifications, how to buy a ticket and contact information for anyone with questions can be found on the fire company's Facebook page. There is one catch about ending up with the lucky raffle ticket: Liberty Fire Company won't deliver the apparatus, meaning the winner has to pick it up.
"Wherever it goes, it'll get a good home," Detweiler told WNEP.
