The Barneveld Area Rescue Squad (BARS) was formally established in 1977 to provide a critical 911 response service to the residents and visitors of the rural Wisconsin communities including the Villages of Barneveld and Ridgeway and Townships of Brigham and Ridgeway, which currently includes 3713 residents. We are a registered 501 © (3) non-profit, providing up-to-date pre-hospital emergency care utilizing the latest technology, communication, and skills available. We understand the importance of taking care of each other, which is evidenced by our outstanding, committed squad. BARS is overseen by Dr. Jodi McGraw of Upland Hills Health.
BARS had been 100% volunteer-based until recently. To meet the growing community needs, one full time Chief was hired in 2023 to support daytime shifts (our other 32 volunteers cover shifts outside of their own jobs). We are lucky to have experienced staff including 13 advanced EMTs (AEMT), 10 basic EMTs (EMT-B), 4 certified drivers, as well as 6 newly added ride-along/students. Our squad responded to 250 calls in 2022 and increased to 282 calls for 2023. Our current volunteer staff are challenged with additional shifts, and we are actively recruiting volunteers and another full-time staff AEMT for daytime needs to meet the needs of our community.
