Our History

On March 15, 1964, two Spring City High School students, looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, decided to take a small boat out and shoot the rapids in the rain-swollen waters of Piney River.

What began as fun quickly turned into tragedy. The boys had underestimated the river's current and when their small craft capsized, only one emerged and made it safely to shore.

On Monday, March 16, after working throughout the night, rescue workers from neighboring McMinn, Roane and Cumberland counties, assisted by local area residents, pulled the body of the drowned 19-year-old from the river.

The late Ted Boles, former mayor of Spring City and early supporter of the Rescue effort was once quoted as saying, “We'd had several drownings over a six month period and people were really questioning why Rhea County didn't have its own rescue squad”

Four months later, in July of 1964, Rhea County received a charter from the state to operate the non-profit Rhea County Rescue Squad Inc, which was headquartered in Spring City and made up of volunteers from throughout the county. The Squad became an active unit member of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS).

At its first organizational meeting, the squad elected “Big John” Crosby as its captain. Other early squad members included Mayor Boles, Olan Jewett, Eugene Shearman, J.R. Looney, Charles Phillips, Howard Pitman, Fred Trew and various other local residents.

During the 1960's and early 1970's the squad primarily responded to drownings, missing persons, and the occasional plane crash. In 1974 the squad purchased its first “Jaws of Life” unit and began providing the service of vehicle extrication in automobile accidents. A second set was purchased in 1980 and placed in Dayton for personnel who lived in the south end of the county to speed up response time for emergencies in that area. In 1984 property was purchased on Railroad Street and a new station was built, allowing for the creation of the Dayton Unit.

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As it was in the beginning, training remains an important part of the rescue effort. Volunteers receive specialized training to become certified in a variety of rescue operations including vehicle extrications involving everything from automobiles to big rigs to farm equipment, search operations, fire fighting, etc.

Specialized technical teams requiring personnel to obtain external certifications in various rescue disciplines have become the norm in emergency services. Currently, the squad has teams for both Swift Water Rescue Operations as well as a team for Vertical Rope Rescue Operations.

Bake sales, road blocks and community dances were a staple of early fundraising efforts, with the proceeds going to help purchase equipment and gear. An auxiliary group known as the Crewettes–mostly the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of squad members–provided the baked goods and hosted the events. Although women now number among the ranks of the rescue squad personnel, the Spring City unit still maintains a chapter of the Crewettes, who are affiliated with the Women's Auxiliary to the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (WATARS).

The mid 1980's saw the creation of the counties volunteer fire department. Both the Spring City and Dayton Units of the Rescue Squad serve as backup units for the FD and many personnel also volunteer with the local community fire districts.

Over the years squad personnel have responded to some very tragic events and some with happy endings. Occasionally, a call can even bring a smile or two. “I responded to a call once where a little boy had gotten his foot stuck in the toilet bowl,” says Brian Shoffner, captain of the Dayton unit and a member since 1986. “The kid had apparently been standing on the commode when he slipped and got his foot wedged in the bowl. I remember walking into the bathroom and here was this little boy with his foot in the commode, smiling and eating a Popsicle. We eventually got him free by cracking apart the toilet bowl.”

Whatever the situation, personnel have been available to help the citizens of Rhea County and beyond since the summer of 1964. With the support of our community we pledge to continue our efforts well into the future.