Now Recruiting

On March 28, 2025, Hawkins County Rescue Squad received notice from the State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Fire Prevention Division that our agency had been awarded a grant for $87,360.25 as part of the 2025 State of Tennessee Rescue Squad Grant Program. The funds awarded were for the purchase of various types of equipment for our agency. 

Since receiving notice of the grant award and the signed contract, our dedicated members have worked tirelessly with several different vendors to get the equipment ordered. With the awarded funds from the grant along with $3,644.31 from our general fund, HCRS purchased the following items: 

· Six (6) complete sets of Extrication PPE which include: Fire-Dex TECGEN51 Jackets & Pants with Suspenders, Team Wendy SAR Backcountry Helmets with Visors and Reflective Kits, Fire-Dex Leather Boots, HexArmor Rescue Gloves, and Gear Bags 

· Fifteen (15) Team Wendy High-Viz Green SAR Backcountry Helmets with Visors and Reflective Kits for our Junior Members 

· Ten (10) Force 6 RescueOps PFDs 

· Five (5) Force 6 Throw Bags 

· Ten (10) sets of NRS Swiftwater Rescue items that include: NRS Rapid Rescuer PFDs, Tow Tethers, Pilot Knives, Compact Rope Throw Bags, Helmets, Whistles with Lanyards, and twenty (20) Carabiners 

· Over $23,000.00 in Rope Rescue Equipment that included: Helmets, Harnesses, Carabiners, Descending Devices, Pulleys, Multi-Function Devices, Rope, Prusik Cord, Webbing, Tripod, and Rope/Gear Bags

· One (1) complete set of Hurst E2 eDraulic Extrication Tools (spreader, cutter, ram) 

· Five (5) Gear Flashlights with Bank Charger 

· Five (5) Lightning X Medical Bags

· One (1) Stokes Basket and Long Spine Board 

· Three (3) Milwaukee Saws 

Over the past few months, our agency has begun receiving the above-listed items and several of the items have already been placed in service and recently been used in many different incidents, providing protection and safety for our members. Some of the items purchased will require our members to complete some additional training before the items are placed in service. The additional training needed is expected to begin later this year. 

HCRS would like to recognize the following individuals and vendors that played a role in helping secure this funding and equipment for our agency: Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte, Joe Pennington with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, Rhonda Chislaghi with Mountain Tek Technical Rescue Equipment, Chris Reed with MES, Lightning X Products, Northern Tool, and Home Depot.  HCRS would like to say a special Thank You to Governor Bill Lee and the General Assembly for providing funding and supporting the State Rescue Squad Grant for Rescue Squads like ours across the State of Tennessee to be able to purchase lifesaving equipment! 

Information about the State of Tennessee Rescue Squad Grant: 

The Rescue Squad Grant Program was originally funded by Governor Lee and the General Assembly in 2022 for the purchase of lifesaving equipment by Tennessee rescue squads. Grant proceeds may be utilized to purchase equipment used by rescue squads for incident response and protect the lives of squad members. The allocation of $3 million represents the first year of the program, which will support rescue squads and the communities they protect. Applications received during the submission period will be scored internally and submitted to a seven-member committee who will oversee the award selection. The committee is composed of six members from the Tennessee Rescue Squad Association (TARS), and TDCI’s Assistant Commissioner of Fire Prevention.
 

To be eligible for the Rescue Squad Grant Program, departments must hold a valid recognition certificate from the SFMO or an active Charter registration with the Secretary of State's office and also have a current letter from the local chief elected official stating that the department is the recognized to provide rescue services in their designated area.