Our History

From Humble Beginnings to a Lifesaving Legacy

1930s–1940s
In 1938, Chic’s Beach resident Buddy Griffith recognized the lack of local fire protection and, with a small group of neighbors, founded what would become the Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Fire Department (CBVFD). Their first fire engine was a modest one-ton Chevrolet, equipped with a skid-mounted pump and a home-built water tank on a trailer. In 1942, the department received a state charter, and on April 30, 1948, was officially incorporated as the Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Soon after, operations moved to a garage on Pleasure House Road, owned by Cliff Morris. In the late 1940s, the department built its first true fire station, a two-bay facility on Lake Drive near the current site of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel toll plaza. The fleet quickly expanded with military surplus trucks and repurposed commercial truck chassis generously donated by local businesses.

1950s–1960s
In 1959, the Ladies Auxiliary was formed by seven dedicated women to support the department through fundraising, administrative tasks, and direct assistance at emergency scenes, often providing the firefighters hot coffee and meals during long calls.

When construction began on the CBBT, the original station stood in the way of the new toll plaza. In 1962, the station was demolished, and a new plot of land was granted nearby on Pleasure House Road. With donated materials, labor, and perseverance, CBVFD members built the new station by hand in just eight months.

That same year, the department’s mission expanded to include emergency medical care. Reflecting this new role, the organization officially became the Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, Inc. A Cadillac ambulance was added to the fleet, and the station saw new additions including a kitchen, sleeping quarters, as well as supply and administrative space. The first brand-new fire engine arrived in 1965, followed by the construction of two new apparatus bays to house the growing fleet in 1968.

1970s–1980s
As call volumes rose in the growing Shore Drive corridor and on the CBBT, the Virginia Beach Fire Department assumed primary firefighting responsibilities in 1972. Paid city firefighters were assigned to Station 4, but CBVRS volunteers remained active in firefighting support, technical rescue and emergency medical services.

On August 22, 1976, CBVRS suffered its only Line of Duty Death (LODD) when Assistant Chief Albert “Pappy” Benke died after responding to a call. His dedication and sacrifice are forever honored by our department. Learn more about Chief Benke's ultimate sacrifice on our "LODD" page. 

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, CBVRS was a pioneer in prehospital care. With the introduction of Shock Trauma Technicians (now Advanced EMTs) and Paramedics, the squad helped usher in a new era of advanced life support in Virginia.

1990s–2000s
By 2004, CBVRS shifted focus exclusively to EMS, retiring its last heavy rescue truck due to rising costs and training demands. Volunteers continued to support technical rescue operations across the city until those responsibilities were formally transitioned to the Virginia Beach Fire Department in 2015.

Also in 2004, following increasing call volumes, the City of Virginia Beach hired its first career Paramedics to augment the volunteers. Today, career employees from Virginia Beach EMS including Advanced EMTs, Paramedics and administrative specialists continue to support the volunteer-based system with field staffing, supervision, and support, helping to ensure rapid, reliable emergency care for the community.

2010s–Today
In 2013, CBVRS moved into the new, state-of-the-art Fire & EMS Station 4 at Greenwell Road and Shore Drive. Designed with modern amenities, the station offers separate facilities for CBVRS and VBFD members and better reflects the diversity of today’s volunteer force. We share Station 4 with VBFD Engine 4 and Battalion 2. In 2023, our former station on Pleasure House Road was sold and is now a popular local brewery.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, our members rose to the challenge. As front-line healthcare providers, CBVRS volunteers continued to respond without interruption while additionally supporting the community with testing and vaccination drives. 

In 2023, VBEMS and the city’s 10 volunteer rescue squads unified under the new “VBRescue” brand. With support from the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation and Rescue Council, the new identity better reflects our collaborative system. CBVRS vehicles and uniforms now proudly display both the VBRescue and traditional CBVRS logos.

Fire & Rescue Station 22 opened in 2024 near Burton Station Road and the Norfolk border, providing faster response to that growing community. Our satellite station, we share this facility with VBFD Engine and Ladder 22.

Until 2025, the Virginia Beach EMS system was one of the few in the nation, and one of only two "large" EMS agencies in Virginia, that provided emergency medical care entirely free of charge, operating solely on donations, grants, and public support. In July 2025, Virginia Beach EMS and the VBRescue system launched a compassionate EMS billing program to ensure the long-term sustainability of emergency services in our growing city. Under this model, patients’ health insurance is billed for ambulance transport, but no one is ever denied care, regardless of their ability to pay. Revenue from this program helps fund essential needs such as ambulance replacement, volunteer recruitment and retention, and advanced training. For CBVRS and our sister squads, this change strengthens our ability to deliver rapid, high-quality prehospital care while preserving the volunteer-driven mission that has defined us for over 80 years.

Today, more than 40 CBVRS volunteer members proudly answer 911 calls as part of the VBRescue system, working alongside ten sister squads to serve the citizens and visitors of Virginia Beach. Just like our founders in 1942, we remain committed to answering every call for help with pride, professionalism, and service.