Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad

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Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad

The Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad is 100% volunteer and serves the citizens and visitors of Charleston County. "For Pride Not Pay"

06/22/2026

This past weekend, 10 members of our team participated in a Search and Rescue Pathfinder Exercise alongside our regional public safety partners.

Our personnel filled several critical roles throughout the exercise, including a ground search team, drone operations team, rehabilitation unit, and a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) responsible for extracting located subjects from the woods and transporting them to safety.

The exercise provided an excellent opportunity to train in realistic search and rescue scenarios, strengthen interagency coordination, and enhance our readiness for real-world incidents.

We would like to thank our partner agencies for their collaboration and professionalism throughout the event, including Awendaw-McClellanville Fire Department, Charleston County Sheriff's Office, and Horry County Search and Rescue with their K-9 search teams.

Training like this ensures we remain prepared to respond when our community needs us most.

For Pride, Not Pay

06/20/2026

This past week, the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad had the privilege of hosting the North Charleston Fire Department TAC (Teens Aiding the Community) Camp at our station.

Our members spent the day introducing campers to the many ways our organization serves the community during emergencies and special events. Students received a tour of our station and got an up-close look at the specialized equipment that helps us respond to a wide variety of incidents across Charleston County.

They explored our marine response vessels, extrication tools, drone program, off-road rescue equipment, and rehabilitation trailer, while learning how each asset plays a role in supporting public safety.

To cap off the visit, our Large Animal Rescue Team conducted a demonstration showing how we safely rescue and lift a downed horse using specialized rescue equipment and Rescue 608, our crane truck. The demonstration highlighted the unique capabilities our volunteers bring to technical rescue situations.

Thank you to the North Charleston Fire Department for allowing us to be a part of TAC Camp and for inspiring the next generation of first responders. We hope everyone enjoyed their visit as much as we enjoyed hosting them!

06/18/2026

Today, we pause to remember the Charleston 9.

Nineteen years ago, on June 18, 2007, nine members of the Charleston Fire Department made the ultimate sacrifice while battling the Sofa Super Store fire. Their courage, dedication, and commitment to protecting others continue to inspire firefighters, rescuers, and emergency responders across the nation.

The Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad was honored to be among the many agencies that responded in support of this tragic incident. While time has passed, the memory of that day and the sacrifice of these nine heroes remains etched into the history of Charleston's public safety community.

Today, we remember:

• Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity
• Captain Mike Benke
• Firefighter Melvin Champaign
• Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton
• Assistant Engineer Michael French
• Captain William Hutchinson
• Engineer Mark Kelsey
• Captain Louis Mulkey
• Firefighter Brandon Thompson

We honor their service, remember their sacrifice, and recommit ourselves to the lessons learned from that tragic day.

Gone, but never forgotten.

06/14/2026

It has been a busy weekend for the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad!

Our members provided medical support for the Lowcountry Splash with two of our rescue vessels on the water, ensuring participants and spectators could enjoy the event safely.

At the same time, the extreme Lowcountry heat and humidity created additional challenges across the area. We were requested to assist U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston, South Carolina Ports Authority, and Charleston County EMS at the USCGC EAGLE, providing rehabilitation, cooling, and hydration support for the large crowds waiting to tour America's Tall Ship.

We are proud to work alongside our public safety partners to keep our community safe, whether on the water, at special events, or supporting visitors during unique opportunities like the United States Coast Guard Barque EAGLE's visit to Charleston.

A special thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers who answered the call and helped support multiple missions simultaneously.

06/07/2026

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the agencies who assisted in the search for a missing juvenile over the past two days. Your partnership, dedication, and quick response made a tremendous difference. 💙

Thank you to:
• Charleston City Fire Department
• St. John’s Fire Department
• Charleston County Rescue Squad
• Awendaw-McClellanville Fire Department
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
• Folly Beach Public Safety
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Charleston City Police Department
• Charleston County Emergency Management
• Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch
• North Charleston Police Department

We are grateful for the teamwork and commitment each of you brought to this effort. Your service to our community does not go unnoticed.

05/27/2026

🚨 WATER RESCUE RESPONSE 🚨

Last night, the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad was dispatched to reports of an overturned jet ski in the water, with the status of the rider initially unknown.

Because the jet ski was located in a shallow, rocky area unreachable by traditional vessels, our team deployed two specialized assets to the scene:

Our Airboat successfully navigated the tricky terrain to reach the jet ski.

Our Metal Flats Boat moved in alongside the vessel to gather crucial identification information for law enforcement.

This incident required a massive, coordinated effort, and we were proud to work seamlessly alongside our mutual aid partners: Folly Beach Public Safety, the U.S. Coast Guard, South Carolina DNR, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Charleston Fire Department, North Charleston Fire Department and the Charleston Police Department.

The Outcome:
While teams searched the water, law enforcement worked diligently to track down the owner. It was ultimately determined that the jet ski had been involved in a separate incident earlier in the day, and thankfully, there was no missing person in the water.

Once the Coast Guard confirmed everyone was safe, all Charleston County assets were released and returned to service.

We are incredibly grateful for the swift communication and teamwork among all responding agencies to ensure a safe resolution!

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day from Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad!

Today we remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, and we thank all veterans for their sacrifice and dedication.

As you spend time with family and friends this holiday weekend, we encourage everyone to continue celebrating safely. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, keep an eye on the water conditions, and look out for one another.

For the past two days, members of CCVRS have been serving on Isle of Palms beach alongside the Isle of Palms Fire Department and Charleston County Parks Lifeguards to help keep beachgoers safe throughout the busy holiday weekend. We’re proud to continue supporting our community and our public safety partners this Memorial Day.

For Pride, Not Pay.

05/24/2026

What would happen if a school bus rolled over?

It’s a scenario no first responder ever wants to face, but one we have to be prepared for.

This week, Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad participated in a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) drill alongside Charleston County Emergency Medical Services, North Charleston Fire Department, the Trident Emergency Medicine Residency, and other community partners.

The exercise simulated a school bus rollover with numerous patients, challenging responders to coordinate triage, treatment, transport, and scene management under pressure. While we hope these situations never happen in our community, training like this ensures we are ready if they do.

Large-scale drills are one of the most effective ways to strengthen emergency response. They allow agencies to identify gaps, improve communication, and refine coordination long before a real incident occurs.

At Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad, we are proud to support these trainings and work alongside our regional partners to help keep our community prepared and protected.

For Pride, Not Pay

05/21/2026

This past weekend, members of Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad were honored to support the Michael W. Leibowitz Memorial 5.12K Walk/Run. It was great to see so many people come together to celebrate Michael’s legacy of adventure, generosity, and community.

Our crews were on site throughout the event to provide medical support and help ensure everyone had a safe and successful morning. We’re grateful to have been invited to be part of such a meaningful event, and we’re glad everything went smoothly.

Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, participants, and supporters who made the event possible and helped continue the charitable work that meant so much to Michael.

For Pride, Not Pay.

05/16/2026

You may have seen Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad vehicles around town and wondered what we do. One of our most frequently deployed resources across the county is Firefighter Rehab Trailer 602.

Recently, during a major fire response with NCFD and auto aid partners, our rehab team was on scene supporting the firefighters working tirelessly to protect the community.

During extended or intense fire incidents, Rehab 602 provides a climate-controlled recovery area, restroom facilities, hydration, snacks, and a place for crews to rest and recover before returning to operations. Firefighter rehab plays an important role on scenes like these, helping ensure crews can safely continue operating during demanding incidents. While firefighters work to protect our community, we work to help take care of them.

For Pride, Not Pay.

Address

2521 Rescue Road
North Charleston, SC
29405

Telephone

+18432257728

Website

http://www.charlestonrescue.com/

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