Newport Rescue Squad

10/13/2026

On Monday afternoon, Newport Rescue Squad partnered with Priority Ambulance, Cosby VFD, and Cocke County FD to assist an injured hiker on Gabe’s Mountain Trail near the Hen Wallow Falls connector.

The hiker was reported to be located approximately two miles from the trailhead on the Cosby side, suffering from a dislocated shoulder. As units were assembling for the extraction, we received word of a possible second injured hiker, this one with a sprained ankle. Upon arriving at the trailhead, we encountered that second individual, who had wrapped the injured ankle and managed to make their way out under their own power.

Meanwhile, back on the trail, the first hiker had received treatment from medical personnel, including immobilization of the injured arm and administration of medication, the hiker was able to proceed down the trail. A team of nine responders made their way to various positions along the trail, prepared to assist the first hiker's evacuation. Fortunately, the injured individual was able to walk out under their own power and appeared to be in very good spirits despite the injury.

Both Cosby VFD and Newport Rescue Squad encountered an age-old challenge faced by volunteer emergency services: having enough available responders during normal working hours, when many of our members are at their full-time jobs.

This is one of the reasons our agencies, along with virtually every volunteer emergency service organization, are constantly seeking new members. When the call comes, having enough trained personnel available can make all the difference.

We're very pleased that this incident had a positive outcome, and we wish both hikers a speedy and complete recovery.

10/06/2026

Yesterday (Monday) at around 3:20 in the afternoon, we received a page-out from Dispatch requesting aid for a hiker on the Appalachian Trail. An individual suffered an injury on the trail roughly two miles from Snowbird Tower that rendered them immobile. As a stroke of luck, that area does indeed have cell-phone coverage, and the individual was able to utilize 911. A team of members from Newport Rescue Squad, Grassy Fork Fire Department, and Cocke County Fire Department joined forces at Grassy Fork station 1 and then set out for the injured hiker. An advance group had already made their way to the hiker, stabilizing them while the rest of the team made their way with rescue equipment. Upon arrival of the main team, the hiker was medically evaluated, further stabilized, and packaged for extraction. The team made a difficult journey, carrying the hiker in the dark on a rather rough trail. The AT can be challenging during the day; at night, in the dark, it becomes a whole different environment. Calls were put out for additional assistance, due to rescuers being absolutely gassed, and some members from Cosby Volunteer FD and additional Cocke County FD made their way out there to provide relief. Just short of twelve hours after the initial page, the rescue was officially complete, and the victim was turned over to EMS for transport to the hospital. That rescue, along with the inevitable after-action wrap-up, resulted in many first responders not arriving home until around 5 a.m. Although difficult, Newport Rescue Squad enjoyed the effort with Grassy Fork and County Fire and cannot think of a better bunch of folks to work through problems with. We all wish the injured hiker a quick recovery from their injuries.

10/03/2026

The nutty people from SAR are all over setting things up for the street fair, heretofore renamed to "The Rain Fair". Grab a raincoat or an umbrella and come chat with us.

09/27/2026

Newport Rescue Squad joins our fellow rescue squads and emergency service agencies across the area in mourning the passing of Chief Jay Ray Walker of the Jefferson County Rescue Squad.

Chief Walker served with the Jefferson County Rescue Squad for more than 40 years, dedicating a significant portion of his life to serving his community and helping others in their times of need.

We extend our deepest condolences to Chief Walker’s family, friends, and to all of the members of the Jefferson County Rescue Squad during this difficult time.

Thank you, Chief Walker, for a lifetime of service. May you rest in peace.

09/12/2026

Don't forget the delicious burgers available at our open house today.

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲!!!

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲!

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝘁𝗼 𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺.

Bring your kids! Bring someone else’s kids! Bring everyone you can think of!!!

We’ll have burgers, hot dogs, and drinks. We’ll also have our squad house open for you to look around, along with most of our squad vehicles.

Come see where we operate. Come check out our vehicles and equipment. The kids will love the 𝘄𝗲𝗲-𝘄𝗼𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀!!!

And while you’re here, strongly consider filling out an application! Just like 𝗔𝗡𝗬 volunteer organization, we could always use more dedicated souls willing to give a little of their time to help us answer the calls of our community.

Many of our highly trained and dedicated volunteers will be here to show you around and answer any questions you may have.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁!

09/07/2026

Cocke County’s annual 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘𝗥𝗔) 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 is scheduled for 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝘁𝗼 𝟰:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. at the 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.

Many of our area’s volunteer fire and rescue organizations—as well as Cocke County Fire Department—will be there, and 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼!

This year, we plan to showcase our 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿. This unit can be deployed during missing-person searches and provides our SAR team with many of the tools needed to manage and coordinate a search operation.

We’ll be demonstrating the computer systems and monitors we use to run 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗼, an advanced web- and mobile-based mapping platform. CalTopo allows our command team to map search areas, assign areas to individual teams, analyze terrain, and monitor the real-time GPS locations and movements of searchers in the field.

That capability is extremely important—not only when we’re trying to locate a missing individual, but also when it comes to keeping track of our rescuers and helping ensure their safety while they’re out searching.

Please stop by to say hi, take a look inside the trailer, and ask us any questions you may have. Our rescuers are always happy to show you what we do and how we do it!

And, of course, feel free to get your picture taken with 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝘆!

09/07/2026

The Search and Rescue Team of the Newport Rescue Squad was activated yesterday (Sunday) to assist in the search for a missing two-year-old child in Greene County.

NRS SAR assembled a team of seven searchers and traveled to a rural area south of Midway, where we reported to an incident command center managed by the Greeneville Rescue Squad and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. By a rough visual count, more than 50 searchers were present, representing numerous agencies from across the region.

After checking in at command, our team was assigned a specific search area extending north from the child’s last known location—his residence. Search teams utilized CalTopo, an interactive mapping application on our phones, to identify assigned search areas and to plot and track the movements of individual searchers by GPS. This allowed both field teams and incident command to see what areas had been covered and where additional searching was needed.

Our team thoroughly searched our assigned area and entered standby with other searchers and law enforcement officers while awaiting another assignment. It was during that time that we noticed a sudden flurry of activity a short distance north of us.

We soon received the news everyone had been hoping for: a farmer had located the child on his property, perhaps a half-mile from the child’s residence.

The little boy was medically evaluated, and although he had endured approximately eight hours exposed to the elements—including rain—he was, thankfully, in remarkably good condition.

The child and his mother were later brought to the incident command location for debriefing. Seeing that little boy there—alert and looking around in wonder at all the brightly colored shirts, uniforms, rescue vehicles, and people surrounding him—was all we truly needed to make every bit of the effort worthwhile.

Searches involving a missing child are among those calls where everyone wants the same outcome. Yesterday, thankfully, we got it.

Our thanks and recognition go to the many partner agencies that assisted in this long but rewarding effort, including:

• Unicoi Volunteer Fire & Rescue
• Morristown Emergency and Rescue Squad, Inc.
• Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
• Greene County TN Sheriff’s Department
• Mosheim Police Department
• DeBusk Volunteer Fire Department
• Greeneville/Greene County, TN Office of Emergency Management & HLS
• Greene County EMS
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office – TN
• Jonesborough Police Department
• Orebank Volunteer Fire Department

…and undoubtedly others whose names we may have unintentionally missed.

To every responder, law enforcement officer, emergency services professional, volunteer, neighbor, and community member who helped bring this search to a successful conclusion: 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

Most importantly, we are very happy that this little fellow is back where he belongs—safe with his family.

09/06/2026

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲!!!

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲!

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝘁𝗼 𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺.

Bring your kids! Bring someone else’s kids! Bring everyone you can think of!!!

We’ll have burgers, hot dogs, and drinks. We’ll also have our squad house open for you to look around, along with most of our squad vehicles.

Come see where we operate. Come check out our vehicles and equipment. The kids will love the 𝘄𝗲𝗲-𝘄𝗼𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀!!!

And while you’re here, strongly consider filling out an application! Just like 𝗔𝗡𝗬 volunteer organization, we could always use more dedicated souls willing to give a little of their time to help us answer the calls of our community.

Many of our highly trained and dedicated volunteers will be here to show you around and answer any questions you may have.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁!

09/03/2026

Newport Grammar School will host an Open House 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝐫𝐝, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟑:𝟏𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝟔:𝟏𝟓 𝐩.𝐦. at 301 College Street in Newport. Come by, look around, and see what their school has to offer!

As an added bonus, 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡/𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝟑𝟐!!! Ever wondered what it takes to open up a vehicle during an extrication? Come take a look behind the magic curtain...

(𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵. 𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴. )

Okay, come look behind all our 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 instead! Check out the equipment we carry, learn a little about what we do and how we do it, and maybe gain an understanding of 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲.

We’ll have coloring pages for the kiddies and free extrication tools for the adults! ... Upon careful consideration...

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐰𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝!!! 😁

Stop by and see us!

09/02/2026

We are as surprised as any of y’all to hear that our missing individual has been found safe — first reported to us in, Waynesville, North Carolina, subsequently updated to Murphy North Carolina.

Murphy is approximately 50 straight-line miles from where the individual’s vehicle was located near Sugarlands Visitor Center. At this time, we know little more than the fact that he has been located. Frankly, unless you’re the agency that actually puts hands on the missing subject, you’re generally not going to receive many of the details afterward.

What matters most, however, is that he was located in apparent good health and can now be reunited with his very worried family.

That is exactly the outcome everyone involved in a search hopes for.