by Lindley Estes-Thomas

In its first season on the water last year, Lake Anna Rescue, Inc.’s new rescue boat – “Boat 3” – was the first on the scene of an accident. A resident slipped off their boat dock and was cut deeply while watching fireworks sparkle over the darkened water.

The rescue boat arrived by water before ambulances reached the victim by land. And according to Lake Anna Rescue, Inc. (LARI) chief Alex Dillard, they offered care only that boat – which functions as both a water ambulance and a fire suppression unit – can.

“Boat 3,’ acquired in 2025 for $175,000 after years of planning and fundraising, is a major step forward for the group and makes the entire lake safer,” Alex said.

Since its inception, LARI has relied on strong local backing, which Alex explained remains foundational to the group’s identity.

“Our agency was built on the premise of neighbors helping neighbors, and those core values are still being followed today,” he said.

The organization has been around since 1998, first operating with just a single ambulance out of a barn near Little River Baptist Church with the help of that congregation. At the time, the all-volunteer service was the only EMS team serving the Bumpass community, as Louisa County’s team did not yet exist.

In those early days, emergency medical services in Virginia focused primarily on rapid transport to hospitals with limited on-scene intervention. Over time, advances in equipment and training reshaped that approach.

“With technological advances, including better equipment and higher training standards, it allows us to provide more advanced care in the field, improving patient outcomes and ensuring safety for our members,” Alex said.

While the agency’s core mission of delivering top-tier emergency medical services has not changed, the way it carries out that mission has evolved significantly. Thus, new equipment has been required to meet those needs, he explained.

As LARI grew, so did its service population. In 2000, after the donation of land for a new headquarters, members embarked on a year-long project to build their current home base.

Today, that facility includes a day room for volunteers awaiting calls, bunk rooms for nighttime crews, a commercial kitchen, and a community room for training and events. The apparatus bay houses multiple ambulances, a chase car and – until recently – a pontoon boat used for water rescue and dive operations.

Lake Anna itself presents unique challenges. The lake is divided into two bodies of water — the public (cold) side and the private (warm) side — and stretches across three  counties: Orange, Louisa, and Spotsylvania. That geography can complicate response logistics. At the same time, the number of agencies and resources operating in the region ultimately benefits those who spend time on the water.

“Now we can run more sophisticated operations with neighboring dive teams and really be here for the health of the community,” Alex said. “That’s what we’ve always been about: a safer community.”

Every year, he added, the lake’s population increases with new full-time residents, part-time homeowners, and weekend visitors. As Lake Anna becomes more popular, emergency calls naturally increase as well.

For years, LARI relied on a 1997 Odyssey pontoon boat outfitted with what was then state-of-the-art equipment. Over time, however, that boat aged and required frequent repairs.

“It got to the point where we were spending more time working on and maintaining the boat than using it,” Alex recalled.

About five years ago, conversations began about replacing it. Other agencies were deploying more advanced vessels and equipment, and LARI’s leadership recognized that to keep pace and to best serve the growing lake community, a boat upgrade was necessary.

That realization launched a multi-year effort centered on community support. Thanks to an outpouring of community backing and tireless volunteer efforts, LARI’s goal moved from conversation to reality.

“Fundraising for the new rescue boat could not have been possible without the support of our dedicated volunteers and community members,” Alex said. “The amount of support that was extended by our community was truly humbling, and there is no way we could have achieved our goals without their help.”

Central to that effort was the Lake Anna Lifesavers Challenge group, which organized numerous fundraising events and amplified awareness of the agency’s mission.

“The Lake Anna Lifesavers Challenge group was not only instrumental in funding our new boat, but it was also crucial for bringing awareness to our mission and efforts to serve our community,” Alex emphasized.

Launched in 2024, the Lifesavers Challenge campaign ultimately raised $110,000, including a $35,000 gift from a private foundation. Fundraising events included a barn dance, a winery auction, backyard cookouts, and a finale hosted by the Bumpass Water Ski Club. The campaign was led by LARI president Troy Dillard (yes, a relation to Alex!).

At the time, Troy said in a press release, “We are deeply humbled by the overwhelming support from our community. This rescue boat will be a game-changer for us, enabling our team to respond effectively to emergencies on the lake. I want to personally thank our membership for recognizing the urgency of this need and approving the funds to enter the contract to purchase the boat, as well as the incredible volunteers whose fundraising efforts have brought us to this point.”

“Boat 3” is a 22-foot, all-welded aluminum vessel built by Canadian manufacturer Stanley, a company that specializes in aluminum marine equipment.

Designed with both rescue and fire suppression in mind, the boat features a 65-inch electric bow gate that lowers flush with the water. The electronically-controlled gate allows responders to load patients quickly and safely during boating accidents, water rescues, and shoreline medical calls.

Alex said he is particularly excited about the combination of the bow gate, hydraulic lift, and floating rescue basket.

“It allows us to treat someone in the water and lift them seamlessly [for transport],” he explained.

The vessel is equipped with EMS medical gear, radios and safety systems, a removable davit crane, thermal imaging, spotlights, and a 500-gallon-per-minute fire pump for on-water and shoreline fire suppression. The fire pump fills a critical gap in water-based fire suppression capabilities on the warm side of Lake Anna.

“Our focus remains on providing high-quality emergency medical care, surface water rescue, and search and rescue operations on Lake Anna,” Alex said, emphasizing that life safety operations take priority over dive and recovery missions.

Although LARI does not plan to operate a dive team this summer, it will continue supporting partner agencies during dive operations.

All of the boat’s features were intentionally selected. As regional emergency response agencies expanded, LARI leaders observed what equipment was proving effective elsewhere. When the time came to order a custom vessel, they wanted to be hands-on in the process.

During construction, members traveled to Canada to tour Stanley’s factory and conduct water testing on Lake Superior to ensure the boat met their operational needs.

“It’s a game changer,” Alex said.

With greater capability comes greater responsibility. Alex explained that the organization is overhauling its boat release process and increasing operator training to ensure the vessel is deployed safely and efficiently.

“All eyes are on spring 2026 to get our next group of boat operators and technicians trained for Summer 2026 water rescue operations,” he emphasized.

Training efforts are taking place in tandem with local agencies to ensure seamless coordination across jurisdictions. Given the lake’s span across three counties and its public and private sides, working together is essential.

“It’s very important that we’re not seeing each other for the first time during an emergency,” Alex said.

Water emergencies LARI has handled in the past include missing boaters, watercraft crashes, sinking vessels, severe propeller injuries, dock crush injuries, falls, and drowning incidents. Already, “Boat 3” responded to multiple calls in its first season.

Alex has been a member of LARI for eight years and has served as chief for the past four. A firefighter and paramedic by trade, he works full-time in Richmond as an EMS operations supervisor and also volunteers with local fire departments in Louisa County.

His professional background and volunteer commitment mirror the culture that defines Lake Anna Rescue, Inc.: a blend of skill, service, and community connection.

Today, LARI has more than 50 active members. The organization offers EMT and ambulance driving classes in the hope of recruiting additional volunteers. Leaders believe the expanded water capabilities and advanced training opportunities may help spark new interest.

As the lake community continues to grow, Alex is confident LARI will grow with it.

“I see our agency continuing to improve and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our community for many years to come,” he said.