Blue Ridge Rescue Squad members of the Botetourt County Special Operations Team participated in the rescue of two victims from Purgatory Mountain on February 8, 2010.  At approximately 11:00am, two individuals began climbing the mountain on foot to conduct repairs to the radio antenna that rests upon Purgatory's summit.  The mountain was blanketed with over a foot of snow at its base, but covered with 2-3 or more feet at higher elevations.  After 5:00, the workers became cold and fatigued near the mountain top.  They were unable to descend the mountain safely by themselves. 

The Botetourt County Special Operations Team was mobilized to coordinate the incident.  The Incident Command Post was established at the Buchanan Crew Hall.  From this location, a plan was designed and resources coordinated.  Three teams were established to conduct the rescue.  One team of five was deployed to the southern side of the mountain and another team to the north side.  Both teams included personnel from the Blue Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad that filled the EMS function.  The northern team was assisted by a bulldozer that attempted to clear snow for responders.  Two teams of two responders followed the dozer on two ATVs.  The high quantities of snow made it impossible for the ATVs to transport two rescuers each.  The team was then split, with the two ATVs going on, while the two other members followed on foot.  One ATV was able to make it to the victims; the other ATV became lodged in a heavy snow drift.  The remaining rescuers eventually arrived at the victim by foot. 

The third team was assigned to a helicopter provided by the Virginia State Police.  This team was delivered to the mountain by air transport.  The helicopter was able to land on the mountain in an area cleared and compacted by the bulldozer.  With the assistance of the northern team, the victims were loaded into the helicopter and transported to the base of the mountain.  The victims were transported to the hospital for further care.

The Blue Ridge Rescue Squad responded to a residential structure fire on January 2nd on Healing Springs Road in Blue Ridge.  The squad responded with two Advanced Life Support medic units and an EMS response vehicle.  No treatment was required.  The squad performed a rehabilitation function by providing refreshments to the firefighters and standby EMS in the event emergency care was needed on scene.  A member of the squad who is also a licensed electrician assisted the fire department by disconnecting the power supply to the structure and removing the electric meter.

Other rescue units responding included two Basic Life Support rescue units from Read Mountain.  The fire response was commanded by Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Chief 1.  In addition to firefighters from Blue Ridge, the incident was supported by personnel from Read Mountain, Troutville, Fincastle, Montvale, Vinton, and Botetourt County Emergency Services.  Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department provided a station fill during the incident.