What Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad does

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) is a volunteer-driven, philanthropically funded nonprofit emergency-services organization founded in 1937 and headquartered at 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, Maryland, with a secondary staffed ambulance at Chevy Chase Fire Department Station 7 on Connecticut Avenue. It provides 24/7/365 emergency medical services (BLS/ALS ambulance transport), structural fire suppression, vehicle extrication, technical rope rescue, water rescue, and hazardous materials response to the Bethesda–Chevy Chase area and surrounding Montgomery County communities, integrated as a component station within the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) command structure.

Operationally, BCCRS runs an 11-vehicle emergency fleet — Freightliner/PL Custom ambulances equipped with Stryker Power Cot/Load systems, LifePak 15 monitor/defibrillators, heavy rescue trucks, command vehicles, and thermal imaging cameras — and is staffed by 125+ active volunteers (including EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters) and 20+ paid personnel who cover weekday daytime shifts. The organization responds to nearly 9,000 calls annually (8,991 in 2025), making it the second-busiest ambulance and heavy rescue squad in Montgomery County, and exceeds 9,000 hours of formal training per year across its member base.

BCCRS's revenue model is philanthropic and governmental rather than commercial: it does not charge for emergency services and is funded through community donations (Annual Fund Drive, online portal, Combined Federal Campaign, major donors, and planned giving), county funding ($176,000 committed by Montgomery County, with subsequent-year continuity), and foundation grants (including a $500,000, five-year commitment for a new heavy fire/rescue squad). It maintains a Four-Star Charity rating (91%) from Charity Navigator, and its customer base — residents reached via the 911/dispatch system — is geographically defined rather than commercially contracted.

Name

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad

Legal name

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad

Website

https://bccrs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Founded in 1937, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that provides 24/7 emergency medical, fire, and rescue services to Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and surrounding Montgomery County, Maryland, integrated into the county fire/rescue system and funded by donations, county funds, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Fire Protection (92216)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch (HLAJAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB), 911/Public EMS Agencies (Municipal/County/Fire-Based) (HLAFANAA), Highway Incident Management & Traffic Incident Clearance (TIM) (TLAJAJAA)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Fire rescue services
• Ambulance transport
• Volunteer emergency response
• Community safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Philanthropically-driven organization that relies primarily on donations from area residents and organizations to fund operations. Receives major donor contributions and planned giving.
2. County Funding: Secured $176,000 in funding from Montgomery County with commitment for additional funds in subsequent fiscal year
3. Grants: Received grants including a commitment of $500,000 over 5 years from a foundation for new heavy fire/rescue squad, subject to matching donations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad provides 24/7 pre-hospital emergency medical services, fire suppression, and technical rescue response to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area and surrounding Montgomery County, Maryland communities. Service is delivered by a combination of volunteer members and paid daytime personnel using advanced life-support ambulances, fire apparatus, and rescue vehicles integrated with the county's 911 dispatch system. Operations are sustained through private donations, grants, and county funding.

Product overview

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) is a volunteer-driven emergency services organization providing integrated emergency medical, fire, and rescue services. The core offering consists of 24/7 EMS (with BLS/ALS capabilities), fire suppression, and technical rescue operations supported by an 11-vehicle emergency fleet including ambulances, heavy rescue trucks, and command vehicles. The organization complements its emergency response with extensive community safety education programs covering smoke alarm safety, fire extinguisher usage, carbon monoxide prevention, and home fire escape planning. Additional services include multimedia educational content, volunteer membership programs with training, and professional development opportunities for EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 24/7 pre-hospital emergency medical response, on-scene stabilization, and ambulance transport for residents and visitors in the BCCRS service area. Delivered by trained volunteer EMTs and paramedics using ALS-equipped ambulances.
• Fire Suppression and Rescue Services Fire suppression, vehicle accident extrication, and technical rescue response for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area, dispatched through the county 911 system and integrated with MCFRS incident command.
• Community Safety and CPR/AED Education Public education programs covering CPR, AED use, and general safety topics, delivered to community groups, schools, and local organizations within the service area.
• Mutual Aid Response Cross-jurisdictional emergency response coordinated with neighboring Montgomery County fire/rescue departments for incidents that exceed a single agency's capacity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Responded to 8,991 calls in 2025 (average of 24+ calls per day)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCCRS is fully integrated into the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) department. BCCRS operates as part of the county's integrated fire-rescue system, with BCCRS personnel serving in the Montgomery County Fire/Rescue command structure to the Duty Operations Chief level.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Falck USA: International ambulance and EMS services provider with U.S. operations. Comparable ambulance transport and pre-hospital care capability, though operated as a for-profit commercial enterprise.
• American Medical Response (AMR): Largest private-sector ambulance and EMS provider in the U.S. Comparable in ambulance transport and pre-hospital care delivery, though organized commercially rather than as a volunteer nonprofit. Useful benchmark for EMS operating practices.

Direct peers

• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department: Adjacent large county-level combination fire/EMS service in Northern Virginia with a mix of career and volunteer personnel. Directly comparable mission, scope (EMS + fire + rescue), and integration with county public safety.
• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS): BCCRS is fully integrated into MCFRS and operates as a station-level component of the county's fire-rescue system. MCFRS is the parent public system in which BCCRS functions, sharing command structure, dispatch, and response protocols.
• Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services: Maryland county-level combination fire/EMS service with mixed career/volunteer staffing model and integrated EMS-plus-fire mission similar to BCCRS, in an adjacent jurisdiction.

Regional players

• Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department: Adjacent Maryland county fire/EMS agency with combined EMS, fire suppression, and rescue responsibilities. Comparable scale and operating model within the same regional public-safety ecosystem.
• Arlington County Fire Department: Northern Virginia jurisdiction directly adjacent to BCCRS's catchment. Combination fire/EMS service with volunteer and career components serving an urban/suburban community comparable in character to Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
• DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department: Provides the EMS and fire service in Washington, D.C. — BCCRS previously operated ambulance service in Upper Northwest DC under agreement with DC FEMS. Same service categories in the same metro area but a different jurisdiction.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagrambccrs.org/multimedia/instagram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bethesda-chevy-chase-rescue-squad

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad