In the fall of 1964 a small girl was reported missing just outside the Pilot town limits on Dodson Mill Rd. After an exhaustive search by volunteers, Law Enforcement and the National Guard, the little girl’s body was located the next day near the railroad tracks that were in the area. Unfortunately the weather had taken the little girl’s life. This tragic event spawned the idea and interest in a Life Saving Organization in the community and became the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad.
- Pilot Mountain Rescue, Inc. Was chartered in February 1965 and volunteers started a long process of training and acquiring equipment. After receiving a 1965 International Rescue Truck through the Civil Defense on a 50/50 matching grant the Rescue Squad started responding to calls for service, with the truck being stored at a service station on Main Street.
- The Squad later moved its truck and operations to the Old Agriculture Building at the Pilot Mountain Elementary School. For the next 2 years, this was the Headquarters and during this time the squad purchased its first ambulance and boat. With growing needs of the county school system the structure used as headquarters was needed to provide classrooms and the Squad moved its vehicles to Cox Funeral Home on Main St. While attempting to locate land for a new headquarters.
- John and Carol Campbell of Pilot Mountain donated land the squad on Old Hwy 52, this is where the new headquarters was built. Help was found in form of the Masonry class of Surry Community college and under the supervision of Instructor George Jones, a new headquarters was built at that location.
- In 1969 the Rescue Squad moved into the new building and the organization started to grow and has continued to grow at that very location. The funeral homes at the time were providing ambulance service to the county, however they stopped providing that service and this caused the purchase of an additional ambulance, to provide the squad the needed coverage for the community.
- In 1976 a 40ft X 60ft addition was constructed to give the organization more room and storage, with this was the purchase of a second boat in 1979 and a new rescue truck was purchased to take the place of the 1965 first run Rescue Truck. Over the next few years new laws and strict regulations by the State of North Carolina and the Federal government, the squad was required to replace the two older station wagon type Ambulances with a new Van type ambulance and a 4 wheel drive Modular ambulance, this was the first 4wd ambulance in the county.
- In 1992 the rising call volumes and multiple dispatches required the purchase of a new rescue truck for response to calls while the other truck was already on a call, there was one large difference that was obvious from 1965 to 1992 the average cost of a rescue truck increased from $6,800.00 to $95,000.00. With some hard work and support from the United Way, Town of Pilot Mountain, Surry and Stokes Counties and Public support, this truck was paid off in three years.
- In 1995 the squad found itself faced with larger demands for service in the EMS field and decided to replace both ambulances at once. In December of 1995 the squad took delivery of a F350 2 wheel drive ambulance and in February 1996 they received the delivery of a 1995 F350 4 wheel drive ambulance. The cost of both these units was $145,000.
- In 2010 the 1995 2 wheel drive ambulance was replaced with a new G4500 Chevrolet Ambulance at a cost of $124,716.00 this was almost what the squad paid for both 1995 ambulances. The squad has also replaced the rescue trucks over the past few years with a 1999 F550 and a 2003 F550, these Rescue Trucks are currently in service as well as a 1999 Tahoe Quick Response Vehicle and a 2016 Ford F150 Quick Response Vehicle. The boats have also been updated to include a Rescue One Boat and a Lowe Boat. All apparatus, equipment and training are regulated by State and Federal laws, this is a continuing process of upgrading and training to stay certified in the fields of Rescue and Emergency Services.
- The Pilot Mountain Rescue and EMS, Inc. have shown its dedication to the State of North Carolina, Citizens of Surry and Stokes County and the citizens of Pilot Mountain, through its continued training and improvements. The State of North Carolina presented one of the highest honors that could be bestowed on rescue personnel with the Rescue of the year Award to the squad for an Automobile accident that members used all of their rescue training and working as a team to save the life of a critical victim that was pinned in a vehicle, hanging over a bridge in the pouring rain. This was a great accomplishment and would not have been possible without the great members of the squad. All of this would not be possible without the great support we have received from all those that have donated their time and financial support over the past years, we have been graced with the presence of great members that have gone on ahead of us, great members that currently serve, and those who will take this squad into the future. And for that we say THANK YOU!