https://www.chcrs.org/home daily 1.0 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1603989344089-4MK37AF0Z0SRFMWACAA6/Wilderness%252BRescue.jpg.jpg Home - WHO WE ARE Chattanooga - Hamilton County Rescue Service (CHCRS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit first responder organization headquartered in Chattanooga, TN. We serve citizens across Chattanooga and the Tri-State area, and deploy at the request of law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency management agencies. We cannot respond to emergencies without the Jurisdiction Having Authority (JHA) formally requesting our assistance. We provide specialized services such as complex technical rescue (on cliffs and in caves); ground search and rescue; swift-water rescue; K9 search; disaster relief services; and Emergency Incident Rehabilitation services to fire, police and rescue personnel. We are a fully self-sufficient rescue team, providing services free to requesting emergency agencies. Our team is staffed by volunteers who are trained professionals and experts in their fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1603989379566-4JWKFDEFRPESYKCWZX04/DSC_0012.JPG Home - TRAINING & OPERATIONAL READINESS CHCRS prides itself as being in a constant state of readiness. Our member-volunteers are put through rigorous training, including Incident Command Systems, SAR classroom and field training, Basic Life Support, and advanced technical rope rescue techniques that go beyond “standard rescue techniques.” Each provisional member must pass a series of skills tests before becoming full team members. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1616168456353-ZSJRH31MAZSI8GJ9SB7T/EmerServmainpagetrlogo-Recovered.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1616169046599-8ZSJJ7U9GGB1WXRAJN8T/unnamed.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1616168743834-DGBT6OPGZOHCH4I3LD4C/bigtars.gif Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1616169086047-3GST0WOGOJOT6Y6S1EC0/MRA+Logo.png Home https://www.chcrs.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2021-03-20 https://www.chcrs.org/volunteer daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1604691872719-HG1VT3IULGAZ4HVZAQSQ/IMG_0612.JPG Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1604691880566-U2XVEB4VESNTRAAO8MON/IMG_20200118_023400.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1604692007348-K3K5KME14OO6T2UXHT20/IMG_20200413_135354.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/48a36918-ca39-4c72-8cdd-1f6ebaecc353/Resized952019091295134554.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1614448837719-K58W2X1MRIUZI5MJNWS4/IMG_8581.JPG Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/5192e273-d8d2-40e4-a140-bde47ed6dda1/IMG_20180308_195535.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/5bb2c29c-c30e-44d2-918a-42ea1a75eec9/IMG_20190730_065749.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/c1783614-d778-48bb-b14c-066eb362ab0b/DSC_0078.JPG Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/bb540d88-e01a-49fa-a3a6-705663968199/635222599_1320346380110964_2268294905341858244_n.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/c929003d-5469-4745-93b9-e2beb5f63723/641290726_1329511949194407_8353657018035549810_n.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/f55465ec-0182-4b50-ae5f-4acb59b53311/642769519_1329511782527757_3882904898991320486_n.jpg Join the Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/7e5362ef-3c3c-49c7-93b9-08bafa030f6c/625310250_1316107927201476_4298573098236830833_n.jpg Join the Team https://www.chcrs.org/command-staff daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615389821811-IY01O0BHZDYQRM1VUFPH/23473119_10214582316449602_8788293186135150959_n.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615390504195-BQQAONIKLTGMTU8LHPDG/36763925_10216306794610545_7899969609388785664_n.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/9ccf9772-2cd5-4493-94f8-adfe115a20e5/DSC_0552.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615390553684-AKXNAPXGJOO4YSAVM3RG/70258220_2451042418441517_3997719910888243200_n.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1616166328776-Z8UBYLOHASQCBCLKTWDR/12006516_1025854724147263_4444996655465527299_o.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615390605560-N5J5K8I2T9X6H5134S8M/Butch1.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/50641e0c-991c-4517-9940-ace367d828f8/IMG_2560.JPG Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/a939d378-5b21-44b5-9893-52d3227ff073/unnamed.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/6035b98e-6834-4f50-9351-f3eed7013e4c/467675943_10160697107675687_2661618377465617701_n.jpg Command Staff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615390589809-8OGQM2S7C27HDXWBGMH6/Melissa.jpg Command Staff https://www.chcrs.org/board-of-directors daily 0.75 2026-02-24 https://www.chcrs.org/services daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/c03951da-a755-4e81-a035-0df8d55c3821/641426397_1329511722527763_3423996337516112245_n.jpg Services - CAVE/CLIFF/ TECHNICAL RESCUE Our team includes over 40 skilled rescuers trained in highly specialized techniques developed specifically for the difficult and demanding conditions encountered in uneven terrain above ground and underground. Our medics have provided advanced wilderness medical intervention for over three decades and have been credited with saving countless lives. Our ability to provide ALS medical care deep inside a cave is a service unique to the Cave/Cliff/Technical Unit and sets us apart from other rescue teams in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1618144446310-H2NW1OF9R1BOYULJ843H/IMG_20210403_044408_629.jpg Services - EMERGENCY INCIDENT REHABILITATION We maintain two mobile rehab vehicles capable of supporting large scale rescue operations with food, water, electricity and other services. The Mobile Rehab Unit is vital to keeping rescue personnel hydrated and fed during extended rescues, fires, searches and police investigations. The Mobile Rehab Unit responds anywhere in the Tri-State area at the request of any emergency agency requiring our services. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1603983042507-62B4KZ9EN89N7DM8X6AV/Land%25252BSearch.jpg.jpg Services - SEARCH & RESCUE The goal of SAR is to locate, stabilize and extract individuals in distress. That can mean a hiker on the side of a mountain, a caver, a trapped urban disaster survivor, or an Alzheimer's patient wandering city streets. Each area of SAR employs techniques specific to the circumstance. Our team is highly skilled in SAR techniques to provide assistance to other agencies in the Tri-State area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1603989141326-1FT4YTX7KQ60EHSL2DS0/IMG_0682.jpg Services - MEDICAL STANDBY Our medical professionals volunteer their services to the community for a variety of events requiring medical personnel on standby. The squad routinely provides medical standby services to road races and charity events in the Chattanooga area. Our team consists of multiple paramedics, several EMTs, trauma nurses, and an emergency room physician. https://www.chcrs.org/history daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/6c0a8d66-13af-4702-a245-eeedd25e4dcc/IMG_8610.JPG History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/4bbc781b-fbd4-49e4-9973-830d428ec5e7/12507582_10154246939999578_6329383537184306735_n.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1614448837719-K58W2X1MRIUZI5MJNWS4/IMG_8581.JPG History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/fa617b14-f619-4c39-a840-064e0df09afb/IMG_20200910_202422.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/bb143b22-e071-4d9b-8489-caf5b247f25e/3.png History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/e729f03b-7b8c-41c0-8aca-1a23da58d557/IMG_20200118_023400.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1604615605465-NZSEGDFQOPHH3215ESQ1/1950+trucks.jpg History - WHERE WE STARTED CHCRS was established in June 1937 as the American Red Cross Life Saving Squad, a volunteer effort to fill an urgent need for emergency services in the Chattanooga area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1614539626073-C201CGLO1Y27BQS1HLW3/17862296_10155767467634578_4587018650881144577_n.jpg History - WHERE WE ARE NOW CHCRS continues to provide valuable professional services to the citizens of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the surrounding Tri-State area. Our Emergency Incident Rehabilitation Unit provides much-needed support and breathing air for SCBA’s to area fire & emergency departments. Our Cave/Cliff/Technical Unit provides technical rope & cave rescue, ground search & rescue, and emergency stand-by services to any emergency agency, state or county that requests our response. https://www.chcrs.org/chcrs-history daily 0.75 2021-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615927345333-8S5UA2F6TJBBVCWRBUTP/1950%2Btrucks.jpg CHCRS History - THE ARC LIFE-SAVING SQUAD The Chattanooga – Hamilton County Rescue Service (CHCRS) was established in June 1937 as the American Red Cross Life Saving Squad, a volunteer effort to fill an urgent need for emergency services in the Chattanooga area. The founding members were volunteer medical responders certified in Basic Life Support through the American Red Cross. In its first years, CHCRS functioned as a first responder service, but also provided marine rescue, firefighting and medical standby services. Water recoveries were frequent and the American Red Cross furnished the squad with two boats for dragging operations in 1938. These boats were the squad’s first official vehicles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615927141679-OEJ3OSZADBP02CTPDS4I/Hydraulic.jpg CHCRS History - CIVIL DEFENSE RESCUE The squad became the Civil Defense Rescue Service in 1959. Gene Glaze served as the first Chief of Operations, supported by Dave Evans as Chief of Administration. Paul and Jeanette Wilkerson were key members of the squad at this point. Paul remained heavily involved until his death in 2019 . During the first year, the squad expanded services to five dedicated rescue divisions in an effort to improve effectiveness and response time. The five divisions were Marine Rescue, Underwater Rescue, Cave/Cliff Rescue, Air Rescue, and General Rescue. The volunteers of these units continued to respond to a high volume of emergencies throughout the 60’s due to the strong influence of the Tennessee Civil Defense Agency and a continued lack of organized local government emergency services. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615927111807-D2UDAHPQ7E1SFX99DWJW/MVR%2525252B1950s.jpg CHCRS History - VEHICLE EXTRICATION In 1961, the Civil Defense Rescue Service was designated by the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee as an official arm of both governments’ emergency services. The squad then began vehicle extrication of victims involved in motor vehicle accidents. The squad received the very first set of Hurst extrication tools, better known as the “Jaws of Life,” in the state of Tennessee. At the height of its extrication responsibilities the squad operated four fully equipped vehicles with Hurst tools and was responding to approximately 600 motor vehicle accidents annually. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1615927469893-JTRE0Y6JE9C7RXZZYCKQ/1960s.jpg CHCRS History - STATE CHARTER TO RENAME TEAM The squad was officially chartered by the State of Tennessee as the Chattanooga – Hamilton County Rescue Service on August 12, 1965. This act dissolved the squad’s ties to the Tennessee Civil Defense Agency and allowed the team to become an independent non-profit organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1616188139353-WTTQTGRGR3U36NU0LX8Z/IMG_1919.jpg CHCRS History - THE 90’S TO TODAY During the 1990’s additional services included Trench Rescue and Hazmat response. CHCRS continued to evolve to provide valued services to the community and many high profile rescues furthered the squad’s reputation as a professional volunteer organization. The Cave/Cliff Unit had become known as the premier cave rescue team in North America and boasted quite a collection of talented individuals. Many unique situations required the technical expertise of CHCRS in this decade and the squad’s volunteers were always ready to respond to any challenge. https://www.chcrs.org/donation-information daily 0.75 2026-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/cf25e956-20ee-4873-b147-710a4d4ac2d8/IMG_6080.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/1ca8f3c4-9789-4b76-8be6-13574910d242/DSC_0926.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99a8243701055b116fb025/23d2ec2d-a9f5-411d-80f5-54ebec5386f3/IMG_4801.jpg https://www.chcrs.org/take-action daily 0.75 2025-05-12