Charlottesville - Albemarle Rescue Squad

05/19/2026

Please join us in wishing our graduates congratulations on their graduation! These young men and women have completed hundreds of hours of EMS training, thousands of hours of community service, and done all of it while being full-time students often juggling jobs too. Their graduation and continued service to this community is a testament of their commitment to excellence. While sometimes bittersweet when graduates depart to the next chapter of their lives, many still stay with CARS. In either context, CARS will always be a home to them regardless of how far they travel.

They joined us as community members and motivated students, they are now EMTs, ALS Providers, Technical Rescue Technicians, Crew Captains, internal committee members, and above all future leaders. We are so very proud of them, and they represent the values and spirit of our agency in every way. Congratulations graduates!!!

05/04/2026

Over the past three days, members of Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, along with members of Western Albemarle Rescue Squad, STVFD, Charlottesville Fire Department, and East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Company have been completing Tactical Emergency Care Course training. TECC is a course designed to improve the medical skills of First Responders in mass violence event environments.
The training culminated in a mass violence simulation led by Charlottesville Police Department officers. In total, over 30 Fire/EMS personnel and 15 Law Enforcement Officers honed their response skills and worked to improve the collaboration and integration of First Responders. This was a “first of its kind” training for CARS volunteers and has done a lot to strengthen our relationship with other First Responder agencies.
We sincerely hope we are never called upon to utilize the skills built over this weekend of training, but the world is not a perfect place. With all this community does to support our volunteer agency, the least we can do is ensure we’re ready to respond in any environment, and integrate with our Fire and Law Enforcement counterparts.
Special thanks go out to the CPD leaders who helped make this training a success, to Charlottesville High School for allowing to train in their facility, and to our amazing cadre of guest instructors.

Dan Paxton
Chief

Want to support CARS: rescue1.networkforgood.com/projects/257495-fund-drive-2025-2026
Interested in Volunteering with CARS: rescue1.org

04/17/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Life Member Rick Tevendale, a devoted servant of the Charlottesville and Albemarle emergency services community.

Rick showed up, day after day, for his colleagues and for the patients who needed him most. He was a pillar of prehospital care in our region, and those who worked alongside him will tell you the same thing.

That calm extended far beyond the field. For years, Rick served as a trusted voice at UVA Medcom. Providers across the region knew his voice and that they were in good hands.

Rick, thank you for your service, your steadiness, and everything you gave to this community. You will be deeply missed.

Rest easy, we'll take it from here.

04/05/2026

We love supporting our local partners 🤘🏽

Your Charlottesville Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2363, are on duty and standing by to keep the City safe as we welcome and tens of thousands of fans to Scott Stadium.

Have a great time, look out for one another, and we’ll be here if you need us. Thank you to and for always having our backs during these large events!

03/15/2026

03/14/2026

VEHEXT day 2 is underway! Thank you to Fire & Safety Equipment Co. Inc. for their sponsorship of our 35th anniversary VEHEXT class

03/14/2026

03/14/2026

VEHEXT Day One: COMPLETE!

03/13/2026

Our 35th anniversary VEHEXT vehicle extrication school is underway! Shout out to ACI Fire & Safety (Air-Care Inc) for their sponsorship!