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Junior Fire Company No. 2 is kicking off fundraising efforts for a new water rescue vehicle with an event on Saturday.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Wal-Mart, 1811 Monocacy Boulevard. Throughout the day, water rescue and other emergency equipment will be on display. The main festivities begin at 6:30 p.m., and include music, refreshments, children's activities and the presentation of a check to the Children's Miracle Network, which will receive half of the raffle proceeds.

The network is an alliance of children's hospitals helping young people overcome various diseases and injuries. A young member of the network will be on hand to help draw winning raffle tickets beginning at 7 p.m.

"We felt, as a community organization, that we need to look at helping other nonprofits," Lt. Scott Martin of the volunteer fire company said. "One purpose of fire/rescue is to save lives, so this is another way we can do that, by supporting the Children's Miracle Network."

Top prize in the raffle is a $1,000 Wal-Mart gift card, with $500, $250 and $100 gift cards to the store also available as prizes.

Martin said the goal is to raise between $150,000 and $180,000 for a new water rescue vehicle, similar in size to an ambulance and custom-built to handle water rescue equipment ranging from boats to line-throwing guns. The department currently uses a pick-up truck, Martin said, which has to be hitched and unhitched to a trailer depending on the scenario.

Junior Fire Company began providing rescue boat services in 1966 after a drowning incident during which it was unable to adequately respond.

"We want to do this without taxpayer dollars," Martin said. "… This will be a self-contained vehicle we can take to wherever we are called. The way we look at it, we think anyone who dies in flood waters is unacceptable, so we will do everything and anything we can to improve the odds of saving them."

For more information on the event and Junior Fire Company's fundraising efforts, contact Martin at 301-471-1051.