Department History

The Hope Valley Ambulance was first founded in 1951, initially as a part of the Hope Valley Fire Company. On March 6, 1951, the organization obtained its first ambulance and formed the Hope Valley Ambulance Squad division of the Hope Valley Fire Company.

A small group of volunteers collaborated and assembled to help meet the area's need for EMS. In the 1950s, it was not uncommon for ambulances to have long response times. Initially, ambulances responded from other towns such as Westerly and/or local funeral homes.

On October 3, 1961, the Hope Valley Ambulance Squad petitioned to separate from the Hope Valley Fire Company. This petition was passed by the association and the ambulance became an independent agency. At that time, Hope Valley Ambulance was still housed out of the Hope Valley Fire Station (now the Hope Valley Post Office). In the years following the separation, Hope Valley Ambulance was granted use of land on Fairview Avenue by the S.R. Avery Funeral Home. Ambulance members then constructed a building and began operating from said building in early 1963. 

Hope Valley Ambulance initially serviced a very large region, operating throughout Southern Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut, due to a lack of other services in the area. In the 1970s, other EMS agencies began to form, allowing quicker response times to their respective service districts. Hope Valley Ambulance currently services the entire town of Richmond, RI, and portions of the town of Hopkinton, RI. Hope Valley Ambulance also responds to mutual aid incidents when requested by neighboring towns.

Over the years, HVAS has grown it's training, scope, services, and equipment. The Hope Valley Ambulance currently operates multiple frontline ambulances, a squad car, and provides up to paramedic-level service, including AEMT-Cardiac level service, and EMT level service, dependent on available staffing.