Founded in 1958 as a civil defense group providing search and rescue and first aid services for the area, the Commerce Emergency Corps has grown to provide medical first response, rescue, and recovery services for the Northeast portion of Hunt County. The Corps' first response vehicle was a 1-ton Army jeep.

In the early 1980's, the Commerce Lion's Club saw a need for rescue services in the area. In response, the club purchased the first set of rescue tools (jaws of life) for the Corps.

Today, the Corps maintains an active roster of nearly 30 volunteers with a range of certifications from First Responder to Paramedic level training, and a dive team with divers trained in public safety and rescue diving.