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The Blacksburg Volunteer Life Saving and First Aid Crew, Inc. was organized in the spring of 1950, with 25 active members. The first vehicle was a Chevrolet Panel Truck purchased from Blacksburg Motor Company at a cost of $1,740. The vehicle was housed at the Blacksburg Esso Station until a shed could be built near the old two-bay Fire Station behind the old Town Hall. The first activity report submitted to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads dated September 1, 1951, to September 1, 1952 listed 96 calls. You can see the air siren on the roof. Back then, the siren would be set off to alert members to an emergency call. Today members carry portable radios, but the air siren still works.
Many changes have occurred since we began. In 1953, due to most members also serving on the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department, the two groups merged becoming the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department and First Aid Crew. The group stayed together until January 1, 1986. At that time, due to the growth of the area and the time and training required, they split into two separate organizations.
In 1957, Blacksburg Town Council provided funds for the construction of a building to house the equipment of the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire and First Aid Crew. The building on Progress Street was designed to provide space for four vehicles, a meeting hall and a storage room. In 1958, the town annexed a portion of the county, thus doubling the population and adding a considerable number of residences and business establishments.
All this new territory became the responsibility of the crew. In 1969 due to state regulations, most of the area funeral homes discontinued ambulance service, placing an extra burden on the rescue crew. In 1971, the crew bought its first custom-built ambulance at a cost of about $12,000. The crew completed its first Emergency Medical Technician's course in 1972. All this growth required some expansion of the crew and of the crew hall. The addition to the Progress Street station was completed in 1981 and the crew purchased its first Advanced Life Support ambulance to become an ALS provider.
In 1986 the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad became and Independent Organization. The squad answered a total of 1,587 calls in 1989, and for the first time in the 39-year history of the squad, we brought home our first two trophies from the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squad's annual convention held at Virginia Beach. The squad continues to grow at a phenomenal rate to keep up with the growth of Blacksburg. With no end in sight for the town's growth, the squad will continue to adapt and implement the latest in life saving techniques and equipment.
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