OUR MISSION
The mission of Davis Corner Volunteer Rescue Squad Inc. is to provide quality services to the community which preserve life, reduce suffering, improve health and promote the safety of citizens and visitors who live, learn, work and play in our community. This mission is accomplished through a systems approach focused on providing high quality patient care services; organizational sustainment; public awareness and education; proactive safety interventions; and all-hazards readiness.
OUR HISTORY
In 1942 a group of citizens in what was then the northern end of Princess Anne County began to recognize the need for fire protection, so in 1943 the Davis Corner Auxiliary Fire Department was formed.
The first fire truck was a Dodge truck purchased for $500 from the Richmond Army Base. The truck was outfitted with a Chrysler engine, a Hale pump, and a 500-gallon water tank. The vehicle was parked at the restaurant of Charter Member John Marr. (Later B&F Tire Company at 5548 Virginia Beach Blvd.).
In September 1944, Mr. and Mrs. Marr sold the Department a piece of property at 316 Davis Street for $10.00 and an official fire station was built. A cinder block building with its additions is still functioning as an automobile repair business at that address.
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For a long time the volunteers did not have a centralized method of receiving and dispatching calls. A list of members, in the order they were to be called, was distributed throughout the community. If someone had a fire they were to call the first firefighter on the list, working down the list if there was no answer. Eventually, an outside siren was installed that alerted the firemen when a call came in. When the City of Virginia Beach began providing communications equipment at each station the installers had to wait until a volunteer was present to unlock the door, thus stations received a number based on when that equipment was installed. Davis Corner was the second station to receive the new communications equipment and was thereafter known as Station 2.
Prior to the mid-1970s business meetings were held twice each month on the second and fourth Fridays. Amazingly, the members were able to accomplish all the business of the organization without a hitch when the Bylaws were changed to require only one meeting each month.
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In 1959 the rescue aspect was added to Davis Corner with the purchase of a second-hand Chevrolet Impala that was converted to an ambulance. Initially no training was needed to run on the ambulance, but eventually members were required to certify in American Red Cross Advanced First Aid, and later as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
CPR training began in 1968 with classes held at Virginia Beach General Hospital where students carried a manikin on a backboard down four flights of stairs, stopping at intervals to do CPR. Then it was onto a stretcher, down the hall and out the door to a waiting ambulance, and a trip around the parking lot all while doing CPR. CPR standards changed so quickly recertification was required every six months.
In August 1962, Davis Corner Auxiliary Fire Department re-chartered as Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. and in April 1968, a second charter as Davis Corner Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. was added. These two charters were merged into one in November 1978: Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc.
On September 1, 1964, our volunteer chief, Vernon Wilson became a casualty of Hurricane Cleo when a piece of emergency equipment he was driving stalled in high water and he was overcome by carbon monoxide. An elderly female he had rescued also died and her husband was critically injured.
Until 1973 only men were allowed to become members. This was due, in large part, to the non-availability of separate bunking and bathroom facilities for women. Donna Slack was voted in as the first female member in April 1973 with Kathy George following two weeks later. The first female members were not allowed to spend the night at the station because of the lack of sleeping and bathroom facilities.
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With Princess Anne County now part of the City of Virginia Beach, on July 1, 1973, the first career firefighters were assigned to Station 2 to supplement the volunteers. The career firefighters initially were employed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to cover the time most volunteers were at work.
In August 1973 Virginia Beach graduated its first - also the nation’s first - group of advanced life support providers. The Cardiac Technician program was the precursor of EMT-Intermediate and our volunteer, chief John Scanlon (now Dr. John Scanlon), was a member of that first class.
In July 1979 Station 2 moved to its present location at 4672 Haygood Road.
LADIES' AUXILARY
The Ladies Auxiliary to the Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1958 with an initial membership of approximately fifteen. Its membership was composed mainly of wives of the volunteer firefighters. During that first year the Auxiliary began holding very popular Teen Dances on Saturday nights on the second floor of the fire station.
The Auxiliary also held street dances at Aragona Shopping Center to kick-off the annual fund drive and adult dances, bingo parties, and spaghetti dinners. Profits were split between the auxiliary and the fire department. Many other projects were supported, including the March of Dimes, the Heart Fund, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a neighborhood girl who needed to have her leg amputated due to cancer.
Over the years the Ladies Auxiliary donated money to the department to black-top the front of the Davis Street building, donated $1500 toward the purchase of a new ambulance in 1959, paid for first aid supplies, items for the kitchen, and coveralls for the rescue duty crew.
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Beginning in 1965 a girl from the dances was crowned annually as Miss Davis Corner. Candidates solicited “votes” at a penny each. Miss Davis Corner and the Ladies Auxiliary participated in the Annual Peach Festival at Knotts Island, NC.
The Auxiliary was the communication link to the men who did not have a monitor, calling them by phone when the station was dispatched to a fire call. The Ladies also brought food and drink to the station and to the scene of working incidents.
Eventually the name of the organization was changed to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. The Auxiliary was a member of the Virginia State Ladies Auxiliary to the Virginia State Firemen’s Association and the Virginia State Ladies Auxiliary to the Virginia Rescue Squad Association (now the VAVRS—Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads). Auxiliary members Virginia Spencer and Jan Williams both served as President for the Virginia State Fire Association Ladies Auxiliary.
In 1966 the Ladies stole into the kitchen during the December business meeting and left a surprise of Christmas goodies. This annual “surprise” continued every year thereafter until the Auxiliary disbanded in 2001.
EXPLORER POST
Explorers are the oldest group of the Boy Scouts of America and are career oriented. In the early 1960s Davis Corner Volunteer Fire Department wanted to start a fire and rescue post, it was then that Spencer Hill approached Howard George to ask if he would be a Post Advisor. Mr. George consented; however, he was not a member of the station, so in the fall of 1964, Howard then joined the station and Explorer Post 440 was chartered in December 1964 with Howard George as its Advisor. Charter members of the post were Bob Branum, Russell Cupp, Bobby Hill, Jimmy Hatstat, Robby Koelling, and Tommy Winder.
All Post 440 Explorers were trained and certified in American Red Cross Advanced First Aid, taking classes taught by Mr. George. The Post would go to Boy Scout camporees and provide first aid for the event. Trained Explorers were allowed to tend to minor injuries at the camporees with Advisors supervising.
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In 1970 Exploring was opened to females, where Lynn Jodin became the first female in Post 440. The Post now being coed, had to have a female chaperone, so Kathy George was added as an Associate Advisor.
Explorer Post 440 was chartered for twenty-two years - at the time Howard George died in March 1987, it was the oldest Explorer Post in the Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America. During his 22 years with the Post, Mr. George received many honors, including the Silver Beaver - the highest Boy Scout award given to a volunteer.
JUNIOR SQUAD
For many years Davis Corner sponsored a Junior Squad, 16– and 17– year-olds, male and female, who took basic first aid and fire suppression training. They were permitted to run as a “third” on an ambulance crew but were not allowed to respond on certain types of calls such as maternities and cardiac arrests.
Junior Squad members were not permitted in the station after 11 p.m. and were required to maintain at least a “C” average in all their school subjects. Juniors presented the Chief with their report cards and those whose grades were not satisfactory were suspended for the following grading period. If the grades did not improve, the junior member was removed from the roll.
PAST CHIEFS, CAPTAINS AND PRESIDENTS
2018
Demetrius Devore, Captain
Debby Coley-Mills/Kay Laws
2017
Debby Coley-Mills, Captain David Luca
2016
Matt Armey, Rescue Captain
Debby Coley-Mills
2015
Tony Bland, Rescue Captain
David Luca
2013-2014
Eric Hoyt, Rescue Captain
David Luca
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2009-2012
Judi Baker, Rescue Captain
Frank Mikeals
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2008
Judi Baker, Rescue Captain
Dave Luca
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2003-2007
Judi Baker, Rescue Captain
2002
Judi Lessard, Chief
Robert Matthews
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2001
Judi Lessard, Chief
Jahmelle Sherman/Robert Matthews
2000
Judi Lessard, Chief
William Laws
1999
Brian Pennell, Chief
William Laws
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1994-1998
Armand Rubbo, Chief
Kay Laws
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1993
Bruce Nedelka, Chief
Kay Laws
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1992
Bruce Nedelka, Chief
Leslie Keck/Kay Laws
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1991
Bruce Nedelka, Chief
Carol Norville/Alan Keck
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1990
Paul Phrampus, Chief
Carol Norville
1989
William Laws/Mary Brown, Chief
Donna Slack
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1988
William Laws, Chief
Donna Slack
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1987
William Laws, Chief
Bruce Nedelka
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1985-1986
Robert Slack, Chief
William Laws
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1984
Daniel Norville, Chief
William Laws
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1983
Daniel Norville, Chief
James Toncray
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1982
Robert Slack, Chief
Donna Slack
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1981
Robert Slack, Chief
Joseph Maynard
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1980
Robert Slack, Chief
Howard George
1979
Robert Slack, Chief
Donna Slack
1978
James Williams, Chief
Donna Slack
1977
James Williams, Chief
Donald Jackson
1976
Howard Carr, Chief
Donna Slack
1975
James Williams, Chief
Donna Slack
1974
James Williams, Chief
Nick Smith
1973
John Scanlon, Chief
Ray McLaughlin
1972
John Scanlon, Chief
Richard Edwards
1971
Richard Taylor, Chief
James WiIliams
1970
G. W. Kline, Chief
James Williams
1969
William Garrett, Chief
James Williams
1967-1968
William Spencer, Chief
Clarence Saunders
1966
William Spencer, Chief
William Garrett
1965
James Roach, Chief
William Spencer
1964
Vernon Wilson, Chief
R. G. Winslow
1963
James Roach, Chief
C. E. Balance
1961
James Roach, Chief
Henry Duplain, Business Manager
1943
John Marr, Chief
Charles Heffington, Chief
Burnley Williams, Chief