1947 — The Department Is Formed

In April 1947, twelve residents of the Court House Station area came
together to discuss the need for a community fire department.

After numerous meetings, the group — consisting of farmers, a
general/hardware store owner, the County Sheriff, and the Deputy Clerk
of the County Court — created the
Princess Anne Courthouse Volunteer Fire Department.

First Board of Directors

• R. H. West (Roland) — Princess Anne, Virginia
• H. E. Bartee (Herman) — Princess Anne, Virginia
• H. A. Sawyer (Harry) — Princess Anne, Virginia
• M. B. Flanagan (Moses) — Princess Anne, Virginia
• L. H. Hill (Luke) — Princess Anne, Virginia
• S. P. Brown (Paul) — London Bridge, Virginia

First Officers

• Roland H. West — President
• David J. Vaughn — Vice President
• Oscar S. Chaplain — Secretary
• Frank W. Kellam — Treasurer

Throughout the year, charter members made several appeals to the State
Forest Service and the National Guard requesting donations of surplus
firefighting equipment.

Although each request was denied, the new department was not deterred.

1948 — The First Fire Truck

Mr. Frank Kellam, who came from a well-known political family in
Southeast Virginia, stepped in to help the organization.

Under his guidance, the community united and raised
$5,000 to purchase a used truck.

The truck was built on a Ford chassis, with the body constructed in the
Hilltop area by the Cadis Camper Company.

The original fire station was a small, old barn owned by the Titus
Sawyer family off North Landing Road. The barn was used only to store
the fire truck and did not include sleeping or living quarters.

In September 1948, Chief R. H. West formed a committee to
“plan for and construct a new station” on property
known as Court House Hill.

Building Committee

• Frank Wallace Kellam — Chairman
• Floyd Eaton Kellam
• Oswald Haynes Buyrn
• S. Paul Brown

1949 — A New Fire Station

In 1949, the department moved into the new Princess Anne Court House
Fire Department building.

The station was built largely by department members, with much of the
building material supplied by the Kellam & Eaton building supply house.

The two-story station included two apparatus bays on the first floor.
The second floor provided space for department meetings, sleeping
quarters, and general living areas.

As was common with volunteer fire stations in small communities, the
station became an important part of the community’s social life.

It regularly hosted social functions, Boy Scout first aid training,
dances, parties, and other community events.

The Princess Anne County Jail was located directly behind the fire station.
Former members recalled that volunteers routinely went to the jail to
assist with answering phones and other basic tasks.

1950 — New Firefighting Equipment

As the department continued to modernize, seven new helmets were
purchased from Richmond Rubber Company for $96.

1951 — The First Ambulance

PACHVFD purchased its first ambulance, a used
1948 Cadillac station wagon.

Because the vehicle was not purpose-built as an ambulance, it lacked
much of the equipment necessary to properly mount and secure patient
cots and other medical equipment.

Members worked to raise the funds necessary to properly equip and stock
the vehicle so it could meet the needs of the community.

During the earliest days of ambulance service, there were no formal
training requirements.

Over time, training requirements became more formal and included:

• American Red Cross First Aid
• Advanced First Aid
• First Responder training
• Emergency Medical Technician certification

Station 5 Gets Its Number

When Princess Anne County began installing communications equipment in
volunteer fire departments, installers had to coordinate with individual
departments to gain access to their stations.

Contrary to popular belief, station numbers were originally assigned
according to the order in which communications equipment was installed —
not according to when each department was established.

1958 — Princess Anne Courthouse Station

1963 — Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach Merge

In 1963, Princess Anne County merged with the City of Virginia Beach
to form the independent City of Virginia Beach.

The once-quiet county courthouse area would soon become the
Virginia Beach Municipal Center, bringing significant
changes to the Princess Anne Courthouse Volunteer Fire Department.

1967 — The First “Big Engine”

In 1967, PACH purchased the first “Big Engine” in the new City of
Virginia Beach.

Members purchased the first Young Crusader built by
the Young Fire Equipment Company of Buffalo, New York.

That same year, continued expansion of the Virginia Beach Municipal
Center created the need for the city to acquire the Court House Hill
property where the PACH Fire Station and historic Masonic Lodge were
located.

1968 — CPR Training and a New Station

Formal CPR training began in 1968, with classes conducted at Virginia
Beach General Hospital.

Providers were required to successfully complete a simulated emergency
call scenario as part of the training. CPR standards were so new at the
time that recertification was required every six months.

Also in 1968, PACH moved from its community-built and member-owned
station into a new, modern fire station at
2461 Princess Anne Road.

PACH volunteers have continued operating from this location, known as
Building 13 in the Municipal Center complex, ever since.

1972 — Career Firefighters Begin Assisting Volunteer Stations

After Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach merged, the city already
had a paid fire department operating alongside the volunteer fire
departments of the former county.

City leaders eventually determined that volunteer departments needed
additional assistance during daytime hours.

A single paid firefighter was assigned to each existing volunteer
station, initially working Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
when most volunteers were at their regular jobs.

During this period, the rescue and ambulance side of the department
remained an entirely volunteer operation.

1972 — The First Purpose-Built Ambulance

PACH ordered its first purpose-built ambulance in 1972.

Several members traveled to the
Modular Ambulance Corporation factory in Dallas, Texas,
to inspect the new ambulance, take delivery, and drive it back to
Virginia Beach.

 

 

According to the story passed down by members, a rear wheel came off
the ambulance while traveling on the interstate during the trip home.

Fortunately, the members avoided a crash and were able to safely reach
the side of the road. A state police officer and tow truck assisted
them in getting the ambulance to a repair facility.

1973 — A National First in Advanced Life Support

Virginia Beach’s Emergency Coronary Care Program graduated its first
class of Volunteer Advanced Life Support providers in 1973.

The Cardiac Technician program served as a precursor to what would
eventually become the Paramedic program.

PACH member Forrest “Chuck” Benson was a graduate of
that historic first class.

1975 — The Rescue Council Is Chartered

In 1975, the Council of Virginia Beach Rescue Squads
was chartered.

The organization was created to promote cooperation among the city’s
rescue squads, improve the efficiency of emergency care through
education and professional relationships, strengthen communication
between rescue organizations and the community, and provide a forum for
addressing mutual concerns.

1976 — A Pioneer for Women in EMS

In 1976, Elsie Benson, Chuck Benson’s wife, graduated
from either the second or third Advanced Life Support class and became
the first female ALS provider in the city.

Elsie served during a time when women were not permitted to sleep
overnight inside the fire station.

Elsie and Chuck owned a camper, which she would park behind the station.
When the station bells and siren activated, she would leave the camper,
enter the station, board the ambulance, and respond to the emergency.

1982 — The Lake Gaston Water Project

In 1982, Virginia Beach City Council established a goal of addressing
the city’s long-term water supply needs, beginning what would become the
Lake Gaston water supply project.

1984 — The Pungo Strawberry Festival

On the weekend before Memorial Day in 1984, residents of the
agricultural community of Pungo created an outdoor festival celebrating
their community and Virginia Beach’s agricultural heritage.

PACH was tasked with providing emergency medical coverage for the event.

PACH continued to provide EMS coverage throughout the festival’s
history until its end in 2020.

1988 — Serving the Community

In 1988, the Princess Anne Courthouse Volunteer Fire Department had
33 members.

Together, those volunteers provided approximately
3,800 hours of service to the City of Virginia Beach
and the approximately 4,500 families living within the
department’s primary response area.

1992 — The Organization Evolves

By 1992, the Virginia Beach Fire Department had assumed nearly all
firefighting responsibilities, and the city’s volunteer organizations
were transitioning primarily into rescue squads.

As emergency medical services became PACH’s primary mission, members
voted to legally change the organization’s name to:

1995 — Approximately 50 Members

By 1995, PACH had approximately 50 members, including
five of the organization’s last remaining volunteer firefighters.

1996 — The Virginia Beach Amphitheater

In 1996, Squad Commander Robert Helfant and President Gorman Pinkston
negotiated an agreement with Cellar Door of Virginia to coordinate EMS
services for the newly constructed
GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

The contract provided a significant boost to the organization’s annual
budget and helped make it possible for the squad to expand its ambulance
fleet from two units to three.

1997 — 50 Years of Service

1999 — Red Mill Substation

By 1999, significant population growth was taking place in the Red Mill
and Strawbridge areas of Virginia Beach.

To better serve residents in the Ocean Lakes and Red Mill communities,
PACH President Gorman Pinkston, working with
Lakeside Construction Corporation, opened a rescue
substation.

Members converted a former Lakeside Construction motor pool maintenance
shop at 2101 Townfield Lane into the Red Mill substation.

PACH operated Rescue 21 from the facility for four
years until the City of Virginia Beach constructed Fire/EMS Station 21
on Nimmo Parkway.

2000 — Preparing for Y2K

The new millennium began amid worldwide concerns about the
Y2K, or Millennium, computer bug.

PACH officers remained at the station throughout the night as part of
the emergency management effort, ensuring that electronic equipment
remained operational as the year changed to 2000.

2003 — Rescue 21 Moves

In 2003, PACH moved Rescue 21 operations from the Townfield Lane
property to the newly opened Virginia Beach Fire/EMS Station on Nimmo Parkway.

That same year, PACH facilities and personnel were used to increase EMS
coverage around the Municipal Center during the trial of
John Allen Muhammad, which had been relocated to Virginia Beach.

2004 — Career Paramedics Join Virginia Beach EMS

As emergency call volumes increased, the City of Virginia Beach and the
Rescue Council recognized the need for additional staffing.

In 2004, the city began hiring career paramedics to
supplement volunteer EMS services throughout Virginia Beach.

PACH members welcomed the first paid Virginia Beach EMS paramedics in
August 2004.

2005 — More Than 45,000 Volunteer Hours

By 2005, PACH had become the second largest of Virginia Beach’s ten
volunteer rescue squads.

At the time, PACH operated:

• Three Advanced Life Support ambulances
• Two stations
• A primary response area covering approximately one-third of Virginia Beach’s land mass
• Approximately 100 square miles
• A service population of more than 40,000 families

2008 — Four Ambulances

In 2008, PACH expanded its ambulance fleet from three units to four.
This allowed members to operate two Advanced Life Support ambulances
from each station.

PACH also continued providing emergency medical coverage for the Pungo
Strawberry Festival and what was then the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

2013 — Preserving PACH History

In 2013, members began a focused effort to research, recover, and
preserve the history of PACH and its volunteers.

One effort included an annual spaghetti luncheon for retired members
from the 1960s and 1970s.

These gatherings gave retired members an opportunity to reconnect with
old friends while current members listened, documented stories, and
preserved memories from the organization’s earlier years.

2015 — Townfield Lane Property Donated

In 2015, Lakeside Construction Corporation gifted the
property at 2101 Townfield Lane to the Princess Anne Courthouse Volunteer
Rescue Squad & Fire Department, Inc. through an unrestricted deed.

Lakeside Construction Corporation Vice President
Eric Anderson continued to be a strong supporter of PACH
and was named an Honorary Member in January 2023.

2017 — 90 Volunteers Serving Virginia Beach

By 2017, PACH membership totaled approximately
90 dedicated volunteers, collectively donating more than
40,000 hours each year.

Members operated:

• Four Advanced Life Support ambulances
• One utility truck
• One Special Events Response Cart
• Two stations

The organization continued serving a primary response area covering
approximately one-third of the city’s land mass — roughly 100 square
miles — and more than 43,000 families.

2018 — Planning for Future Growth

In June 2018, PACH began negotiations with the Virginia Beach Fraternal
Order of Police to purchase property and the FOP lodge building on Birdneck Road.

2019 — A Year of Highs and Lows

The year 2019 was one of both tremendous achievement and tragedy for PACH.

Birdneck Road Property

In April, PACH completed the purchase of the Birdneck Road property.
The acquisition provided the organization with a social hall where
members could gather and created additional space and storage to support
future organizational growth.

May 31 Municipal Center Shooting

On May 31, 2019, PACH members were among the first emergency responders
to the tragic Building 2 active shooter incident at the
Virginia Beach Municipal Center.

The senseless act of violence occurred just outside the station doors
and forever changed the Virginia Beach community.

Tidewater Regional EMS Council Award

In June 2019, PACH was named the
Tidewater Regional EMS Council Outstanding EMS Agency of the Year.

EMS World / NAEMT Volunteer EMS Agency of the Year

In October 2019, PACH was named the
EMS World / NAEMT Volunteer EMS Agency of the Year.
Five members traveled to the EMS World Expo in New Orleans to accept
the award on behalf of the organization.

2020 — COVID-19

In 2020, the world was confronted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first time in decades, PACH membership declined significantly
rather than continuing to grow.

Many of those membership losses were associated with United States
military restrictions regarding service members’ off-duty activities.
It would take approximately two years before PACH began seeing membership
levels recover.

2021 — Annual Golf Tournament

In 2021, PACH established an annual golf tournament to generate
additional revenue for the organization.

The inaugural tournament was a success and became an annual fundraising tradition.

2025 — Compassionate Billing Program

In 2025, PACH worked in collaboration with the Virginia Beach Rescue
Council and the city’s other nine volunteer rescue squads to support
implementation of a compassionate billing program.

For the first time in Virginia Beach’s 62-year EMS history, bills would
be issued for ambulance transports.