Welcome to Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad's website. We are a Non-Profit organization staffed completely by volunteers who are dedicated to meeting the emergency medical needs of Virginia Beach and more specifically the Shore Dr./Chic's Beach area. Feel free to look around to see our work within the community and if you should have the ability, a donation is certainly both welcome and appreciated.
We provide prehospital emergency care 365 days per year regardless of holidays or weather conditions and we wouldn't be able to pull it off without the support of the community.
100% of donations go to the purchasing of medical supplies necessary to provide care to your loved ones and neighbors throughout Virginia Beach as well as the maintenance of our emergency vehicles that you see in our community.
Need a kickstart to your day? Help support your local volunteer rescue squad while adding a little pep to your step! We have partnered with Norfolk Coffee & Tea Co. to present to you our own private label dark and medium roast coffee!! A partnership we are excited about!! Our first two batches of coffee completely sold out and our supporters can’t stop raving about the quality.
Your purchase helps make everyday operational needs possible. We continue to offer top notch emergency medical services free of charge through the support of our community with fundraisers like this one! We are offering each bag for a low cost of $12. Feel free to message us today to purchase a bag or two!
Serving Chesapeake Beach since 1938
A little bit about us...
The Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Fire department was formed in 1938 by “Buddy” Griffith. The first truck was a 1 ton Chevrolet chassis with a skid mounted pump mounted on the rear. The truck would pull a trailer with a water tank. The State Corporation Commission issued their charter in 1942. Just after the department formed, the fire department moved out of the wooden garage and occupied an old gas station on Pleasure House Road owned by Cliff Marois. In the late forties, a two bay station was built on Lake Drive near the current Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel toll plaza is located. This building was adjacent to the building occupied by the Chesapeake Beach Men’s Club and the Chesapeake Beach Women’s Club.
The second fire truck was a 1938 GMC Pumper with a 500 GPM Hale pump and a 900 gallon tank. This truck was to be the only pumper in the area with tandem axles. It was labeled the “turtle” because it was so slow. It ran as the attack pumper and could even move across the sandy beaches along the Chesapeake Bay. A 1954 GMC Pumper purchased by the Civil Defense Department and the first meeting of the Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary was held on January 27, 1959. Seven ladies were present at that meeting and their purpose was to assist the firemen in any way possible, to co-sponsor fund raising with the department, and in general, for the betterment, improvement and service of the Fire Department. The Ladies Auxiliary came to be very involved with the community and numerous functions were conducted.
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In December of 1961, plans for a new fire station were drawn up. The present station was being moved because it was right in the path of the planned Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The 140 million dollar bridge tunnel project spanned 23 miles across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and connected Virginia Beach with the Eastern Shore.
Construction lasted many years and the members of the Chesapeake Beach Fire and Rescue responded to many calls for assistance on the bridge during construction.
The new fire station broke ground in January of 1962, and the members themselves helped build the station during evenings and weekends with the assistance of contractors. The men removed the blocks from the old station and sold them to raise money for the new building. The Ladies Auxiliary would prepare meals for the firemen while they worked. It took eight months to build the three bay station. In July of 1968, two more bays were added to the existing station.
In 1965 a new Mack Pumper was purchased by the Bayside Borough Fire Protection Association. In the fall of 1972, paid firefighters were assigned to Company 4.
In 1986 a new 55 foot Grumman Telesquirt was delivered and today, three firefighters and a captain provide twenty four hour fire protection to the surrounding communities of Chesapeake Beach. In 2003 this truck was refurbished and repainted with department colors of white over red.
Interested in a Ride-A-Long Observer Shift?? Check out this video on what to expect:
Not being certified in CPR or not being a trained EMT doesn't mean you can't help in an emergency. Watch this video to learn "Hands Only CPR" brought to you by the American Red Cross.
This Chesapeake Beach Station houses:
- 3 Advanced Life Support Ambulances (420, 422& 424)
- 1 Utility Vehicle
- 1 Off Road Ambulette