Did you know that the Raleigh Fire Department used to take patients to hospitals when local ambulances were not available? “Raleigh Rescue” was organized in 1953 and could transport patients in a pinch, when local funeral home ambulances were not available.
In October 1965, most of the funeral homes in Raleigh ceased ambulance services. Private operators took over the role, including Beacon Ambulance Service, shown in this picture from the 1970s.
In August 1976, ambulance services changed again for Raleigh residents with the creation of Wake County EMS. They initially provided emergency transport service in and around Raleigh and expanded to other areas across the county in subsequent years and decades.
RFD rescue units provided back-up transport services until about 2001. Twelve years later, the department’s three two-person rescue units were consolidated into a single, five-person heavy rescue unit. Rescue 1 was placed in service in February 2013 and today is named Rescue 16 at Station 16.
Backup emergency medical services are now provided by mutual aid agreements, which Wake County has with all contiguous counties.
Learn more about Raleigh fire history at the Raleigh Fire Museum.
(Editor's Note: This information and photo are provided by RFD historian, Mike Legeros)
