About
Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad
Our Mission
The purpose of our organization shall be “to deliver the highest quality pre-hospital emergency care to the citizens of Virginia Beach, promote safety awareness within the community and assist with fire suppression”
Our Stations
Station 16
VBFD & EMS Station 16 located at 3610 South Plaza Trail is our Home Station, Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad shares this building with Virginia Beach Fire Department – Plaza Company 16. When looking at the building from the street, the Rescue side is on the left side of the building. VBFD Fire offices and bunk rooms are on the right side of the station.
Our Rescue Squad station houses five (5) Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances. This station is located in the center of the city. Because of this, our ambulances can be dispatched anywhere in the city to assist our citizens. Our “first due” area goes from Lynnhaven Parkway & VA Beach Blvd all the way to Thalia Drive & VA Beach Blvd to Green Run’s Neighborhood. However, we can be dispatched anywhere as directed by Virginia Beach emergency Dispatch (911).
Station 15
Virginia Beach EMS Station 15 is the Thalia EMS Station. This is Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad’s substation or secondary station. This station normally only supports one ambulance operating from it. There is also a Virginia Beach EMS Supervisor and Paramedic Zone Car located and operating from this building. This station is unique in that it is the only standalone EMS station in the City of Virginia Beach. There is no VBFD apparatus or personnel. Thalia station holds a total of three (3) individual crews bunk rooms, a supervisor bunk room and a Zone Medic bunk room.
Thalia EMS Station 15 “first due” covers the Town Center and the Thalia neighborhood area. However, the ambulance can be dispatched anywhere as directed by Virginia Beach emergency Dispatch (911).
In 1967
A new 1967 International ambulance was purchased and placed in service. The members voted to change the name of the company to the Plaza Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad and moved into their new quarters on South Plaza Trail, complete with a brass fire pole.
In 1995
The Fire Company and rescue squad were separated into 2 different entities and the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad was founded as an independent corporation.
In 2015
Plaza added a 5th ambulance to the fleet, the first addition in many years. This allowed for a 3rd run truck to be available to staff Thalia Station. Station 15 was completed in 2015 and was declared fully operational as the city’s first EMS only station after construction was completed that August.
Station History and Advancement
PVRS was originally established as the Lynnhaven Volunteer Fire Co. in February, 1962 by 23 men of the Bow Creek Presbyterian Church. The Fire Company was located in the Borough of Lynnhaven and County of Princess Anne. The Fire Company incorporated in April 1962 but was still a fire company in name only as there was no fire equipment yet.
In late 1962
The members voted to change the name to the Plaza Volunteer Fire Company. In March 1963, the first fire truck, a 1946 Ford Maxim 500 GPM pumper was purchased for $500.00 and was parked in the driveway of the Fire Chief on Appian Avenue.
In April 1963
Mr. John Aragona gave permission to clear and survey a parcel of land on the west side of Rosemont Road (presently Silina Drive/Rosemont Road intersection). In May of 1963, clearing and surveying had been completed and in mid-September of the same year, the first building to house the Plaza Volunteer Fire Company was completed.
In 1965
After a rise in rescue calls, the membership turned their attention to First Aid training and purchased their first ambulance, a 6-year-old Cadillac. This was placed into service in August 1965. Later that year, Mr. Linberry in association with Mr. John Aragona deeded the city property on South Plaza Trail for a new fire house.
