After a downtown explosion in the old Masters Building in 1947, which killed 11 people, and a disastrous flood with fatalities in our area in 1949, seventeen concerned and dedicated men realized Harrisonburg needed a rescue squad.
In September 1949, the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad was chartered and began to deliver volunteer, pre-hospital medical care and patient transport for our community. The eighteen men were: William Bowman, Lawrence Bryan, H.K. Darr, D. Delllinger, Warren Denton, Warren Early, Fred Earman, Harry Earman, Boyd Garber, Bill Humes, Roy Leach, Buddy McInturff, Lawrence McInturff, Lawerence Long, Ormand Lorentz, Dewey Senger, Norlyn Senger, and John Stearn.
The Harrisonburg Rescue Squad was one of the earliest volunteer rescue squads organized in the state of Virginia and in the entire United States!
The first rescue/crash truck, a GMC ton panel truck, was given to the squad by the Harrisonburg Fire Company and cost approximately $1200. These generous men would at times give from their own pockets for gas to run their rescue vehicles. First aid supplies and 2 resuscitators were purchased. The squad’s first ambulance was a Mercury station wagon, converted into an Ambulance, and was donated by Royal Motors of Harrisonburg.
In 1950, the first full year of their existence, the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad ran 192 calls. Being the only rescue squad in the area, Harrisonburg covered a large area and was known to run calls over to Pendleton County, West Virginia, north beyond Woodstock, south to Staunton, and east past Shenandoah and Elkton.
Some of the earliest runs members recall include a drowning near Timberville off of Rt. 11. Another early call was for an airplane crash near Kratzer Road and Virginia Avenue. 2 people were onboard. One fatality, one was saved. 3 sailors visiting the Harrisonburg area crashed their automobile as they were leaving the area to return to Norfolk. All 3 died when they hit a concrete wall near old Rt. 33.
Harrisonburg Rescue was known for their extrication expertise and saved many victims in motor vehicle crashes. HRS was often called to scenes over 50 miles away due to their extrication abilities and their quick response.
An early extrication from a vehicle involved a patient trapped under his car, which landed on its roof after rolling. Despite many efforts members were unable to free him. Squad members’ ingenuity helped save the victim when they took off the tires from the car and used them to help lift and hold the car off the victim. On that same night there were 2 other wrecks that Harrisonburg responded to. Instructors in extrication were in the area for a class being held here and assisted on the 3 wrecks that evening. They commented that they learned extrication techniques from this squad.
One crash involved a man trapped in his vehicle by his leg. Efforts to extricate him were unsuccessful until a Harrisonburg member thought to untie the patient’s shoe. This freed his leg and the patient was then removed from the vehicle.
In 1957, Harrisonburg Rescue purchased their first actual ambulance. It was a Pontiac, which the members recall proudly driving here from the manufacturer.
Harrisonburg Rescue was housed on Newman Avenue with Fire Company #1 until 1970. Both companies moved to their new station on Maryland Avenue that year.
In 1999, 50 years after being chartered, HRS had approximately 80 active members running 911 calls and maintaining the functioning and business needs of the organization. HRS ran approximately 5,400 calls [in 1999] and had a massive celebration of its 50 year anniversary.
In July 2003 the agency moved to the first station built specifically for the rescue squad. Located at 1700 Reservoir Street the building houses all operational equipment indoors and offers areas for all of the tasks that the Maryland Avenue location just didn’t have room for.
Today, HRS owns and maintains 7 ambulances, 3 response vehicles, and a Heavy Rescue Vehicle. Also in development is a Mass Casualty Incident Response Unit that will be capable of caring for up to 250 patients. A training vehicle and a Dodge truck equipped with a snow plow complete the HRS vehicle fleet.
HRS now has over 120 active volunteer members and responds to over 6700 calls-for-service per year. The volunteers take pride in the ability to provide extensive life-saving services with absolutely no paid staff, administrative or operational. Harrisonburg Rescue is proud of its history and nearly 60 years of providing free emergency services to the community.
History compiled and written by: Leslie Ney NREMT-P, Active Life Member