Kernersville Rescue Squad

Research Notes

See source clippings and more in Google Drive folder.

Last updated: Oct 10, 2021

• 1968 - Kernersville's two ambulances, operated by each of its two funeral homes, ceases service. Source: WSJ, 6/13/75.
• 1968, May - Newspaper reports that one of the town's two full-time firemen, Roger Powell, is organizing a rescue squad. He has twelve volunteers signed up, and needs about eighteen more. Source: WSJ, 5/2/68
• 1968, Dec - County ambulance service places unit in Kernersville. Source: WSJ, 6/13/75.
• 1969, circa - County ambulance service removes unit from town the following year, due to lack of calls. Source: WSJ, 6/13/75.
  
• 1973, Apr - Squad mentioned in newspaper story. Source: WSJ: 4/18/73.
• 1975, June - Only ambulance service is serving Kernersville is Pine Grove Rescue Squad, but only transports "in life or death situations." Source: WSJ, 6/13/75.
• 1979, Feb 6 - Articles of incorporation filed.
• 1979, Mar - Squad has been offering emergency medical services since March 5. Source: WSJ: 3/25/79.
   
• 1984, Sep 25 - High-level rescue incident, involving construction worker trapped at top water tower in time, results in helicopter crash that kills the pilot and Forsyth County Rescue Squad Training Officer Stephen G. Richey. The worker had died by the time of the accident. See story on FCRS history page.
• 1987, Feb - FCEMS paramedic ambulance added at Kernersville Fire Station 1, start of twelve-week experiment to see if "such an arrangement would provide better service" to the eastern part of the county, and if financially and physically possible. If successful, county will consider permanent unit there, and in Rural Hall and Clemmons-Lewisville area, which wouldn't happen until at least the next fiscal year. What's the unit's relationship to the squad's ambulance and its service? TBD. Source: WSJ, 2/21/87, WSJ, 9/10/87.
• 1989, Feb - Snapshot. Squad has an ambulance, a heavy rescue truck, a used Suburban, and a new Suburban. Source: WSJ, 2/23/89.
   
• 1992, July - Squad protests proposal to get automatic defibrillators for the town fire department. County medical director wants KFD and Clemmons FD to participate in three-year pilot program using the machines. Squad also wants to get/use them, but the medical director will not approve their use by the squad. In August, town officials decline to participate, citing reasons that include, not jeopardizing relationship by KFD and KRS. Source: WSJ, 7/12/92, 8/9/92.
• 1993 - Squad adds newer heavy rescue truck, 1993 GMC/______. Replaces "lighter-weight" truck built in 1980. Source: WSJ, 3/18/93.
• 1994, July - Town board receives complaints that squad is too slow to answer emergency medical calls. News story reports that squad has been hurt "by budget cutbacks by United Way and the departure of a few members." Town board receives request that fire department respond first to medical calls, but postpone action on the request, and, instead, will conduct meetings to improve coordination between KFD and KRS and arrange new financial support for the squad. Source: WSJ, 7/7/94.
• 1994/95 - Fire department takes over answering medical calls [as first responder] in town. Squad sees sharp drop in number of calls. News story on July 24 notes "when necessary, the rescue squad can transport patients." Source: WSJ, 5/23/91, 2/14/02.
• 1995, Aug - By next fall, Squad may get defibrillator after waiting for years, reports news. County has four-phase plan to get each squad or fire department its own defibrillator by the following year. Source: WSJ, 8/13/95.
   
• 2001 - Merger attempted of the squad into the fire department, but it fails. The squad then announced their intention to disband by the end of the year. The town begins purchasing rescue equipment, so the fire department can take over rescue duties. The squad then goes "through an upheaval" with a new board and new chief, and reverse their decision to disband. Source: WSJ, 2/14/02, 8/14/03.
• 2001 - Squad answers about 30 calls during year. Source: 2/14/02.
• 2002, Jan 1 - Fire department takes over handling rescue calls in town. Source: WSJ, 2/14/02.
  2002, Aug - Squad signs contract with town, to provide back-up rescue duties. Source: WSJ, 8/8/02.
• 2002, Nov - County commissioners decline request by squad for authority to oversee convalescent transport services in town. Squad sought a franchise from the county as a means to remain active, as they're no longer called for rescue work (except as back-up) or emergency medical transportation. The squad had paid about $45,000 for three used ambulances and equipment, as they were confidence in gaining approval. Source: WSJ, 11/7/02, 12/5/02.
• 2003, Aug - Newspaper reports county did not dispatch squad to single emergency between August 1, 2002, and August 3, 2003. Story notes that the squad has been doing presentations in schools, sending its instructors to local industries, and standing by at school athletic events. They also answer the occasional non-emergency call, and provide mutual aid to neighboring counties when requested. Source: WSJ, 8/14/03.
• 2005, Jan - Petition started to restore squad's rescue duties. By January 27, it has some 1,300 names. News accounts note that the squad also doesn't routine respond to medical calls. The squad was to resume both, but needs approval from county commissions, which is unlikely. The squad performs such activities as standing by at athletic events, festivals, and company picnics. In 2004, it answered 118 calls. That year, it was dispatched only twice to a "rescue situation" in town. And it helped units in other counties on "rescue missions" about ten times. WSJ, 1/27/05
• 2005 - Squad sells their building. By January 2008, their equipment is parked at the home of the squad's chief, Wayne Temples. Source: WSJ, 1/3/08.
• 2006 - Squad doesn't answer any rescue calls in town or in the county during year. Source: WSJ, 12/29/08.
• 2007 - Squad doesn't answer any rescue calls in town or in the county during year. Source: WSJ, 12/29/08.
• 2008, Jan 2 - Town officials terminate contract with squad, that gave the squad "backup status" to respond to rescue calls within the town limits. Action prompted by a squad fund drive that drew criticism last week from county officials, who noted that the squad had not answered a rescue call in the town in two years. The squad violated its contract with the county by conducting a fund drive without county permission. The contract termination takes effect in 30 days. The squad ceased their fund drive. News accounts also note that the squad has "heavy rescue" status, while the town fire department only has "medium rescue" status. Source: WSJ, 1/3/08.
• 2008, Mar 10 - County Commissioners adopt resolution terminating mutual aid agreement between county and the squad. This followed the town terminating its agreement with the squad. Source: BOC Minutes, 3/10/08
• 2008, Apr 18 - Corporate name change filed with state, to Carolina Rescue and Emergency Medical Transport, Inc.
• 2008, _____ - Ceased operation in Forsyth County, with medical response and rescue duties handled by Kernersville Fire Department.

Early ambulance, loaned to Mineral Springs Fire Department in 1987. Courtesy Mineral Springs Fire Department.

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