Church Hill Rescue Squad

04/30/2026

🚨 COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED 🚨
The Church Hill Rescue Squad is currently collecting clothing donations for a local family in need, and we would truly appreciate the community’s help. ❤️
We are looking for the following items:
Women’s Sizes: • Shirts & Pants: 3XL–4XL
• Jeans: Size 22
• Socks: Size Large
• Underwear: Size 13
• Bras: 44C
Children’s Sizes: • Girls Shirts: XL
• Girls Bottoms: 10–12
• Socks: Size Medium
• Boys Boxers: Size Large
📍 Drop-Off Location:
351 W Main Blvd
Church Hill, TN
🚑 Pickup Available:
If you’re unable to drop off, we are more than happy to come pick up your donation—just send us a message!
Every item, big or small, makes a difference and helps support a family right here in our community. Thank you for always showing up and helping us take care of one another. 💚

04/30/2026

We would like to congratulate Lieutenant Elijah Needham completing rookie school! We are proud of you and you will do great things!

The Kingsport Fire Department would like to congratulate Probationary Firefighters Bryson Petty, Elijah Needham, and Toby Nichols on their graduation from the Northeast Tennessee Regional Fire Training Association Rookie School last night.

04/06/2026

Please keep the Farris Family, Hawkins County EMS, and Hawkins County E-911 in your thoughts and prayers for the days to come.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of former Hawkins County EMS Paramedic, Wanda Brooks Farris.

Wanda dedicated many years of service to Hawkins County EMS, as well as other agencies in the surrounding counties. She also served with Hawkins County E-911, continuing her commitment to helping others and supporting her community.

Wanda will be greatly missed by all who had the honor of working alongside her and knowing her.

Please keep her family, friends, and all those affected by her passing in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

— Hawkins County EMS

04/02/2026

We are excited to announce that we have received the Rescue Squad Grant this year. Our agency will be receiving $121,740.00 that will go to life saving equipment and personal protection equipment. We look forward to sharing this with you once we receive the funds and equipment starts to be purchased and received. Thank you to everyone for your continued support!

03/28/2026

🚨 Out in the Community Today!🚨

Members of the Church Hill Rescue Squad are currently set up at two locations:

📍 Carters Valley Rd & N. Central Ave.
📍 Goshen Valley Rd & Arnold Rd.

Our team is out collecting donations and handing out informational flyers about the services we provide to our community.

If you’re out and about, be sure to stop by, say hello, and learn more about how we serve Hawkins County. Every donation—big or small—helps us continue providing essential rescue services when they’re needed most.

Thank you for your continued support! ❤️

11/17/2025

Update: The rescue has been completed, and responders are clearing the scene.

Church Hill Rescue Squad, Hawkins County Rescue Squad, and members of the Hawkins County Multi-Jurisdictional Rope Rescue Team are currently responding to the Moore Road area of Mooresburg for a technical rope rescue. Please avoid the area and yield to responders.

11/07/2025

For Immediate Release:

CHURCH HILL, Tenn. –

Church Hill Rescue Squad, an all-volunteer non-profit emergency response agency, has expanded its technical and heavy rescue capabilities thanks to the generous donation of a 2002 Pierce Quantum Heavy Rescue from the City of La Vergne Fire-Rescue.

The apparatus, originally purchased by the City of La Vergne in 2018 and placed into service in 2019, served their community faithfully before being placed in reserve status in 2022. Rather than allowing the apparatus to sit idle, La Vergne Fire-Rescue and the City of La Vergne chose to donate it to the Church Hill Rescue Squad, where it will be kept in service and used for advanced vehicle extrication, rope, swiftwater, dive, trench, and confined-space rescues.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the La Vergne Fire Department and the City of La Vergne for this donation,” said Deputy Chief Hunter Jones of the Church Hill Rescue Squad. “As a completely volunteer, nonprofit agency operating on a bootstrap budget, opportunities like this simply don’t come along very often. This truck gives us a dependable platform to better serve our citizens and our mutual-aid partners.”

Chief Tim Coup, Deputy Chief Hunter Jones, Lieutenant Elijah Needham, and Rescue Technician Alex Kinney traveled to La Vergne to take delivery of the apparatus. During the handover, Church Hill Rescue Squad members had the opportunity to get a walkthrough of the truck’s equipment, modifications, and service history before officially transferring ownership.

“This new apparatus will augment our 1992 International 4700 Heavy Rescue, which has served us well, but has many years of hard use and high mileage,” Jones added. “With this addition, we’ll have greater reliability and flexibility to respond to advanced vehicle extrication, rope, water, trench, and confined-space emergencies not only within our primary coverage area, but across all of the counties we assist through mutual-aid requests.”

Church Hill Rescue Squad serves the eastern half of Hawkins County primarily and serves as the second due rescue agency for the rest of Hawkins County. They provide specialized rescue response throughout the region and have deployed to surrounding counties on multiple occasions, most notably during Hurricane Helene. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to protecting their community with professionalism and pride.

For more information about Church Hill Rescue Squad or to learn how to volunteer or donate, visit www.churchhillrescuesquad.org or visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/churchhillrescuesquad.

https://churchhillrescuesquad.org/news/church-hill-rescue-squad-receives-donated-heavy-rescue-truck-from-la-vergne-fire-rescue/

Photo Credit: City of La Vergne

11/05/2025

We would like to congratulate Lt. Elijah Needham on a long term goal of his!

Kingsport Fire Department welcome two new Firefighter Recruits Toby Nichols and Elijah Needham! They began their training this week and will attend Rookie School in the Spring.

10/31/2025

🎃 Halloween Safety Tips from Church Hill Rescue Squad! 👻

As the ghosts and goblins hit the streets tonight, we want everyone to have a fun and safe Halloween! Here are a few quick tips to keep your night spooky but safe:

🟠 Be Visible: Add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes and bags so drivers can see you.
⚫ Stay Together: Young children should always trick-or-treat with an adult or group.
🟣 Watch for Traffic: Use sidewalks when possible, cross at crosswalks, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
🟢 Check Treats: Wait until you’re home to inspect all candy and treats before eating.
🟠 Drive Carefully: Slow down and stay alert—kids may dart into the road unexpectedly.

🚑 Our volunteers will be out in the community tonight and ready to help if needed. From all of us at Church Hill Rescue Squad, have a safe and happy Halloween! 🎃🧡

10/18/2025

🚨 TECHNICAL HIGH ANGLE RESCUE 🚨

At approximately 4:30 p.m. today, the Church Hill Rescue Squad was dispatched to the Okolona Road area for a Technical High-Angle Rescue involving a male subject stuck in a tree.

CHRS responded with Squad 2, Squad 3, and the Special Operations Rope Trailer. While en route, Hawkins County E-911 advised that the caller reported her husband was stuck approximately 25–30 feet in a tree and was experiencing extreme pain. The victim had reportedly been stuck for around 45 minutes before our arrival.

Upon arrival, Unit 700 confirmed the situation and immediately began coordination efforts. Hawkins County E-911 had already activated the Multi-Jurisdictional Rope Team and Hawkins County Rescue Squad. Additional manpower was requested from Mount Carmel Fire Department upon CHRS’s arrival.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies, the male subject was successfully and safely extracted from the tree and assisted to the ground at 5:33 PM.

🙏 We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the following agencies for their assistance in this complex technical rescue:

Hawkins County E-911
Hawkins County Rescue Squad
Multi-Jurisdictional Rope Team
Hawkins County EMS
Carter's Valley Volunteer Fire Department
Mount Carmel Fire Department

All units have since returned to service.