LA VERGNE, Tenn. – With two four-inch binders of maintenance records and a signed title, La Vergne officially handed over a heavy rescue truck to the all-volunteer Church Hill Rescue Squad — a Board-approved donation that keeps vital equipment in service and expands rope, water, trench, and confined-space rescue capabilities across Hawkins County and its mutual-aid partners. Hawkins County is located in upper East Tennessee, near Kingsport and along the state border with Virginia.

The heavy rescue was originally purchased in 2018 from a department outside Chicago and went into service in La Vergne the following year after being refitted. It served the community until 2022 before being placed in reserve status.

“We’re proud to see it go somewhere that will put it to work and make a real difference,” said Battalion Chief Patrick Hood. Chief Hood noted that the transfer ensures the equipment remains in operation rather than sitting idle and allows the volunteer agency to significantly expand its capabilities.

“I hate to see it going, but I’m glad to see it going where someone can use it,” added Hood, who often drove the truck when it was in active service with La Vergne.

The vehicle’s new home is in Hawkins County, about four hours from La Vergne. Picking up the truck for Church Hill Rescue Squad were Chief Tim Coup, Deputy Chief Hunter Jones, Lt. Elijah Needham, and Alex Kinney, a rescue technician and K-9 handler.

“We’re a completely volunteer, nonprofit agency operating on a bootstrap budget every year,” said Jones. “Outside of La Vergne donating a truck to us, we would never have the opportunity to have a piece of equipment like this. We’re very fortunate and very thankful for that as well.”

Church Hill Rescue Squad serves the eastern half of Hawkins County and provides technical rescue services across several neighboring counties through mutual aid. The unit’s existing 1992 International heavy rescue vehicle has logged extensive mileage and wear.

“This truck will augment our older heavy rescue and give us a dependable apparatus for rope, water, trench, and confined-space rescues,” said Jones. “It’s going to help us better serve not just our city, but the surrounding counties we assist as well.”

During the handover, La Vergne firefighters walked Church Hill members through the truck’s equipment and maintenance history before turning over the vehicle title and two four-inch binders of service records.

• For more information about the La Vergne Fire Department, visit LaVergneTN.gov or follow the department on Facebook.