Lower Burrell fire company having success raffling off AR-15 rifles to raise money

In a year when the covid pandemic has forced many organizations to cancel fundraising events, Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 (Kinloch) has had success raffling off AR-15 semiautomatic rifles to raise money.

The department’s fundraising efforts have been down about $100,000 this year, but Kinloch Chief Ted Hereda said each of the department’s virtual raffles of AR-15s has netted about $1,000 with tickets typically selling out in 12 hours.

Kinloch was offering tickets or “tips” on the company’s Facebook page on Friday, marking the fifth time it has raffled off an AR-15 in two months. Payments and the drawing are done virtually.

“They are the most popular gun out there now and they sell out quickly,” Hereda said. “It really is good fundraising. With covid, we don’t have many ways to raise funds.”

Raffling off guns is nothing new, said Jerry Ozog, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute.

Before covid-19, volunteer fire companies were raffling off all types of sportsmen’s equipment, including rifles, ATVs and apparel.

“It’s a philosophical choice,” Ozog said. “Another department might raffle off purses and cars.”

The most unique fundraiser in the state has been a fire company that raffled off an old fire truck. The company ended up profiting more from the raffle than they would have if they sold the truck on the open market, Ozog said.

“Volunteer fire departments have to be entrepreneurial to survive these days,” he said.