1968- Danville Civil Defense began teaching civil defense skills around the state. Large groups of people would gather in town and attend classes taught by Paul Sevigny, and other trained instructors. The civil defense trainings included courses in Personal and Family Survival, Civil Defense Management, Radiological Monitoring, Shelter Management, Medical Self-Help and Red Cross First Aid.

1969- The need for an ambulance service was established. With help from local volunteers and Danville Civil Defense an ambulance was purchased at no cost to the tax payers. The 1958 red and white Pontiac hearse would live in the paint shop at Perley and Phyllis Burrington’s on Brainard Street. The only other ambulance service at this time was the Brightlook Ambulance Service operating out of the Brightlook Hospital in St. Johnsbury. To get an ambulance, or for a fire, you called a phone number that rang in several homes at the same time. (The “Red-Phones” are still in use today in 2007! The only exception is that in January 2007 the phones themselves were replaced with beige colored phones.)

1970- At this time Danville’s population had the highest percentage of people trained for disaster than any other town in Vermont. The Danville Civil Defense Rescue Ambulance Service was now officially a licensed transporting service, and with $400 dollars in the bank, it was time to plan for expansion.

1971- A total of 31 people were currently active with the Danville Civil Defense Rescue Ambulance Service. A special thanks was sent out to three Danville citizens who contributed most to the success of the service; Perley Burrington, Rev. Robert Moyer and Harold Beattie Jr. A campaign for a new ambulance costing $10,500 was started. Half of the money was funded by the federal government; the other half was donated by generous individuals, allowing the service to operate at no charge to the community. Having a volunteer ambulance service had saved the town approximately $10,000 by town meeting in this year.

1972- A new ambulance has arrived, the 1972 orange and white Chevy Suburban High-Top would be the first ambulance to move to the overcrowded fire station on Hill Street. To get the ambulance out of the station, a fire truck would have to be moved first.

1973- An upgraded license of Emergency Medical Service was received in February. The name of the service was modified to the Danville Rescue Unit. Eleven people from our town attended the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital and 2 members were trained as emergency care instructors. The first uniforms were issued to crew members with First Aid training or higher. The orange jackets can be found in several closets around town today!

1974- First aid kits were issued to the most active squad members; it was not possible to supply each of the 52 members with their own kits! In conjunction with the Danville Fire Department each home in Danville was mapped, saving precious time when responding to an emergency. The volunteer service has saved the town over $16,000 in normal ambulance fees.

1976- With over 60 members, Danville Rescue has the fasted response times in the Northeast Kingdom, and has one of the best records in the State of Vermont! For the first time large monetary contributions and stock market donations are being received.

1979- Fierce fundraising efforts were made to build a new fire and rescue station. Land was donated and under the leadership of Perley Burrington and Paul Sevigny the new station was build with no federal, state or local funds! With enough space to expand, both fire and rescue began planning for additional equipment.

1980- A new ambulance was purchased in January. The 1978 orange and white Ford Econoline Van was purchased with no special fundraising effort thanks to the continuous donations of the town’s people. The grand opening of the new fire and rescue station was held, the Rescue Squad’s new home was now officially on Railroad Street.

1982- Surrounding towns began appropriating funds to Danville Rescue for their services as a gesture of thanks and recognition for the services the squad provides for their towns. Danville Rescue has had the fastest response times in the Northeast Kingdom for 13 years.

1983- Danville Rescue was noted as being one of the first rescue squads to include “the ladies”. There are currently 7 ladies on the 24 person crew. The squad was envied throughout the state for continuing to be able to operate without billing. The members responded by saying “…we believe that if we give people our love and care they are going to respond to our [monetary] needs. So far it has worked very well”.

1984- A sad year, as one of the founding members, Perley Burrington passed way. A dedicated public servant, Perley was the fire chief and responded to approximately 800 calls with Danville Rescue (a majority of the calls over the 15 year period of operation). Paul Sevigny resigned as squad president to allow the younger members a chance to run the service. Gary Yoder was elected the second acing president of Danville Rescue.

1985- Danville Rescue is recognized as the only service in Vermont in operation over 15 years that has never sent a bill for services.

1986- A new ambulance was purchased with out any additional fundraising efforts. The 1984 blue and white Ford Collins ambulance was the first ambulance to be a box style ambulance. Unable to sell the aging Ford Van, it was re-painted to the new blue and white colors and used as a second ambulance for back-up calls.

1988- Gary Schoenemann was elected as the third president of Danville Rescue. Upgraded communications equipment was purchased to enable the crew to quickly service those in need. 20 years of success!

1989- Continuing to host and sponsor classes, Danville Rescue participated in State training pilot programs, and prepared to send several members to an Advanced Life Support training allowing them to use automatic defibrillators and start IVs. Orange stickers were distributed letting everyone know that in an emergency you should call 684-2200. “We would rather be called and not needed, than needed and not called”.

1990- Paul Sevigny retired from Danville Rescue after 23 years of service. Upon receiving a license as an Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service, Danville Rescue became incorporated as the Danville Rescue Squad, Inc. To this day most people still refer to the squad as Danville Rescue.

1991- A new ambulance was again purchased. The 1988 blue and white Ford Frontline ambulance was one of the largest ambulances available. This would be the last gasoline ambulance. The van was sold, and the Collins became the secondary ambulance. As call volume increased having an ambulance available for a second call was becoming more and more important.

1995- The first custom build ambulance arrived just after dark at the first annual Danville Fair Street Dance! The 1994 Ford Wheeled Coach was blue and white. It was not only the first diesel ambulance; it was also the first ambulance to have strobe emergency lights. (As of spring 2007 this ambulance will be sold and replaced).

1998- Danville Rescue had out-grown their space in the fire station. Efforts began to look for a place to build a new building to allow Danville Rescue a new home.

2000- Entering the new millennium Danville Rescue was one of the most advanced squads in the state. No small task when you consider the other services they were being compared to were paid services with full-time staff!

2001 to 2003- In addition to our regular duties of providing patient care, time and efforts were focused on getting permits for the new building. Funds saved for the construction of the building were re-allocated when Danville Rescue was brought to environmental court in an effort to stop them from building on the land donated to them. After a year of attending court dates and having additional work done to the building site, Danville Rescue was approved to begin construction. 9-11 and the conflicts in the Middle East had driven up the cost of building materials almost double the cost of the original estimate. Danville Rescue would be forced for the first time ever to ask the Town of Danville for a large amount of money to assist them with the construction.

2003- With a loaner in the station, the secondary ambulance was sent away to be re-chassied. The box of the 1988 Ford Frontline was stripped, re-modeled, re-painted and mounted on a 2002 Ford 450 Super Duty chaises. Still blue and white, the ambulance was purchased with squad funds requiring no additional fundraising. Construction began of a new building on Brainard Street. The lot was donated by Phyllis Burrington; it was the same lot that the first ambulance was housed on in 1969.

2004- Construction of the new building was completed and at our annual meeting, the first Wednesday in December, the crew moved all of the equipment, uniforms, training materials, medical supplies and ambulances into their new home.

2005- The Danville S-Ski-Mo’s donated a snowmobile, rescue sled and trailer to Danville Rescue. Finishing touches were made to the building and the grand opening was held in June, with a dedication ceremony. Phyllis Burrington and Marion Sevigny were presented with plaques in memory of their husbands’ hard work building Danville Rescue 37 years ago.

2006- Danville Rescue purchased an amphibious vehicle through a grant to allow them to use their rescue trailer all year, and assist in providing access to patients who are not easily assessable by car, foot or boat. Danville Rescue sent its first bill for services. After being asked by the town to do so, the squad began billing, BUT, has remained 100% staffed by volunteers!

2007- Another ambulance arrived this January. A Ford Lifeline, and yes, it is still blue and white. The crew currently consists of 19 members certified in Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support. Danville Rescue continues to teach First Aid and CPR to the community, as well as various levels of care to healthcare providers. Although the squad now bills for their services, they remain volunteer and still depend on donations to supplement their income allowing them to continue to provide the highest quality of care possible for those in need.