WhoweR

Charleston County Volunteer

Fire and Rescue Squad

On October 4, 1962, the North Charleston Volunteer Rescue Association received its charter from the state of South Carolina. However, volunteers were nothing new to the community. From 1935-62, fire protection for areas north of the city of Charleston was provided by a volunteer force from the St. Phillips Parish, St. Michael's Parish and the North Charleston Public Service District fire departments.

In 1962, the North Charleston Public Service District became a paid department and ended its use of volunteers. While some of the volunteers accepted paid positions, others felt a strong need for volunteers in the community to extricate victims trapped in automobile accidents, search for lost persons and overdue boaters, and recover drowned victims. This group of six men petitioned the state for the original charter for the organization.

During the ceremony commemorating the official beginning of the North Charleston Volunteer Rescue Association at Magistrate John R. Stall's office on Jenkins Avenue, three women burst into the presentation to report that their husbands were missing on the Cooper River - thus the first official call for the Association.

While the organization aimed to provide services to surrounding areas not covered by the paid departments, the Association maintained a working relationship with these departments and provided services to North Charleston and surrounding communities and counties alike.

At the time, the Isle of Palms Rescue Squad, James Island Fire Department, Johns Island Fire Department , St. Andrews Rescue Service, City of Charleston Police and County Police only provided crash wagons - used to "scoop up" the victim and rush to the hospital.

The Rescue Association, on the other hand, was the only organization capable of providing extrication capabilities - with port-a-powers, cutting torches and the first arriving wrecker. The Association also manned the boat that was used to search the rivers for lost boaters - since the fire departments relinquished this task.

During the early 1960s through the late 1970s, the Association provided Disaster Teams to the American Red Cross and responded with First Aid Teams and Shelter Teams up and down the east coast to assist during hurricanes.

In 1972 the Association received the first "Jaws of Life" delivered to the state of South Carolina, and one of the few that was delivered throughout the southeast. The tool was paid for by the man who became the local McDonald's franchise owner in the Charleston area and the local 7-11 corporation.

In 1973, the Association's name was changed to the Charleston County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, Inc., to better reflect the community served.

2003, the Squad built and moved into its new headquarters station at 2521 Rescue Drive which was dedicated to Mr. Robert L. Dunlap the only active charter member still active with the Rescue Squad.

Today, the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad is a volunteer organization consisting of 56 members and a medical control doctor who serve not only the city of North Charleston, but the entire Charleston County area. Members are certified in a variety of emergency skills, including auto extrication, fire fighting, structural collapse/urban search and rescue, diving, large animal rescue, rural search and rescue, and high angle/ technical rescue. In addition, many squad members are First Responders, EMTs and Paramedics.

TIME LINE

December 4, 1962

~ North Charleston Rescue Association Officially formed.

~ A Baker Step Van was donated by Geer Drug and a 1953 Chevy

Pickup was acquired. A boat and tools from the Fire

Department were placed into service.

August 15, 1963

~ On behalf of North Charleston PSC, Chief J.H. Pooser donated a

14 foot wood boat to the Rescue Assoc.

~ Members assembled a 16 foot tri-hull CMF boat from a kit and

then received a 14 foot fiber glass bass boat as a donation.

1964

~ Pond boat built and donated by a member named Tipton

1965

~ Assoc. acquired first Civil Defense Willys Jeep it was used until

68 when it was replaced

1968

~ Received new Willys Jeep from Civil Defense

~ Rescue receives a County Police Crash Wagon to begin

transporting dead bodies for the Coroners Office. This

happened after a body was left on the side of the road for over

12 hours.

1970

~ Rescue receives a Chevy Step Van that replaced the Baker

Step Van

1972

~ First Hurst Tool in State sold by David Counts paid for by 7-11

and what became McDonalds

~ What will become know as Charleston County Emergency

Medical Service (EMS) is formed by the County.

~ Total missions for the year 42.

1973

~ The first new rescue truck is acquired from a grant provided by

Civil Defense. Rescue took delivery of a 1972 International,

with a custom Swab body, fully equipped. Equipment meets

Civil Defense Standard for a Rescue Truck. This truck was later

sold to NCDFD and then sold again to Westvaco Rescue Squad,

where it is still in-service.

~ The Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Association changes it

name to become known as the Charleston County Volunteer Fire

and Rescue Squad.

~ EMS receives its first 2 transport units and begins providing

service to the community.

~ The Volunteer Rescue Squad is placed under the guidance of

EMS for Budgeting reasons.

1983

~ International Travel 1963 Ambulance was donated by Braswell

Shipyard with 5200 original miles. This unit served as the body

transport unit for years.

1990

~ Rescue 6, a C3500 with a custom body was placed in service

as the primary rescue unit.

1992

~ Rescue 9, a C3500 with a custom body was placed in service

as a second primary rescue unit.

1996

~ Rescue took delivery of a 20 foot Airboat to assist with rescue

missions in the marshes, flats and Islands along the coast of

Charleston County.

2000

~ Rescue Squad took delivery of a 19 foot Zumro inflatable boat, Boat 65, from a HUD Grant through Charleston County.

2001

~ Rescue 8, a F750 with a rear mounted crane and custom body

was placed in service as a heavy rescue unit complete with

USAR rescue tools

~ Rescue Squad took delivery of its second air boat, Air 20, after

the first one was totaled in a mishap on the Ashley River.

~ Rescue 19 was placed in service to relieve the aging Rescue 16 on James Island.

2003

~ Rescue Squad receives funding for 10 AED's and 40 first

responder bag to be issued to certified first responders to

respond for EMS just as the off duty paramedics do.

~ The Squad moves into their new headquarters building that they

own.

2004

~ Rescue Squad placed the new Rescue 9 and Rescue 11 in

service. Both units were purchased by the County and built by

members of the Squad. The two units replace old Rescue 9 and Rescue 11. This move resulted in the re-numbering of a few

units and moving them around in the community.

Rescue 6 was moved to reserve status.

~ U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company presents the Squad with a

free Trail Gator.

2005

~ A new Rescue 21 was placed in service to replace the van that

was worn out when we got it.

~ A new Technical Rescue Trailer was put in service to support

Technical rescue operations and the Newly formed

Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Team.

~ Having been training and responding to Large Animal Rescues

for years, the Squads Executive Board officially designated Large Animal Rescue a Specialty Team of the Rescue Squad.

~ With a little help from our friends at the Sheriff's Office Marine

Patrol we refurbished a 27 foot Boston Whaler, Boat 70, placing

it in service in time to assist with the New Ravenel Bridge

Opening, where Boat 70 assisted with security and made

helped with 3 water related rescues during the event.

_ The Squad removed from service the following equipment:

Boat 10, Boat 17, Rescue 33, and Rescue 36.