| Save Hackensack Fire EMS |
General Order 93 of March 27, 1963 provided for the Hackensack Fire Department to take
over the responsibility of providing ambulance services for the city from the volunteer
corps. This was done due to declining volunteer membership. The Fire Department
provided the service from 0600 to 1800 Monday thru Friday. In November 1977,
Hackensack moved to the forefront of emergency medical care, sending seven firefighters to
paramedic training. We were the first Fire Department in the State to do this. At first these
men were assigned strictly as paramedics, but shortly after were assigned to a platoon and
also fought fires. Also in 1977, the department hired civilian paramedics and had as many as
fourteen of them by 1981. In that year, the State of New Jersey ruled that the Hackensack
Fire Department Paramedics must be reassigned to Hackensack Hospital by May 5, 1981 so
that a greater number of municipalities could benefit from the advanced life support they
were trained in.
To cover the gap left by their departure, the fire department hired civilian Emergency
Medical Technicians. There are currently 8 EMT’s on the job, and they man the two Fire
Department ambulances from 0600 to 1800 weekdays. In 2006, once again due to declining
volunteer membership, the Hackensack Fire Department took over weekend day ambulance
service, with one of the Fire Department Ambulances. Our EMT’s are among the most
highly regarded in the state. Our senior EMT, Walter Tompkins was awarded a lifetime
achievement award in EMS from the state of NJ last year, and there are numerous plaques
honoring our EMT’s achievements hanging in the firehouse. They have responded to it all,
fires, horrific vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, building collapses, you name
it, they’ve been there, and they do it very well. They range in years of experience from 3
years to 27 years. It is not just a job to them, it is their career. Most of our Fire
Department EMT’s are also trained to the level of firefighter, and that is a huge advantage
for us, as they know what our fireground operations and procedures are all about.
In 2007 the Fire Department ambulances responded to a total of 3445 calls while only being
in service 60 hours a week with 2 ambulances, and an additional 24 with only 1. The
experience they bring to the table makes them second to none not only for our safety, but
the taxpayers’ safety and well being. These eight Professional EMTs are part of the
Hackensack Fire Department. Their jobs were created to assist not only our residents, or
the travelers who drive through our City, but as support system for the Fire Department’s
Firefighters and Police Department’s Patrolmen.
over the responsibility of providing ambulance services for the city from the volunteer
corps. This was done due to declining volunteer membership. The Fire Department
provided the service from 0600 to 1800 Monday thru Friday. In November 1977,
Hackensack moved to the forefront of emergency medical care, sending seven firefighters to
paramedic training. We were the first Fire Department in the State to do this. At first these
men were assigned strictly as paramedics, but shortly after were assigned to a platoon and
also fought fires. Also in 1977, the department hired civilian paramedics and had as many as
fourteen of them by 1981. In that year, the State of New Jersey ruled that the Hackensack
Fire Department Paramedics must be reassigned to Hackensack Hospital by May 5, 1981 so
that a greater number of municipalities could benefit from the advanced life support they
were trained in.
To cover the gap left by their departure, the fire department hired civilian Emergency
Medical Technicians. There are currently 8 EMT’s on the job, and they man the two Fire
Department ambulances from 0600 to 1800 weekdays. In 2006, once again due to declining
volunteer membership, the Hackensack Fire Department took over weekend day ambulance
service, with one of the Fire Department Ambulances. Our EMT’s are among the most
highly regarded in the state. Our senior EMT, Walter Tompkins was awarded a lifetime
achievement award in EMS from the state of NJ last year, and there are numerous plaques
honoring our EMT’s achievements hanging in the firehouse. They have responded to it all,
fires, horrific vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, building collapses, you name
it, they’ve been there, and they do it very well. They range in years of experience from 3
years to 27 years. It is not just a job to them, it is their career. Most of our Fire
Department EMT’s are also trained to the level of firefighter, and that is a huge advantage
for us, as they know what our fireground operations and procedures are all about.
In 2007 the Fire Department ambulances responded to a total of 3445 calls while only being
in service 60 hours a week with 2 ambulances, and an additional 24 with only 1. The
experience they bring to the table makes them second to none not only for our safety, but
the taxpayers’ safety and well being. These eight Professional EMTs are part of the
Hackensack Fire Department. Their jobs were created to assist not only our residents, or
the travelers who drive through our City, but as support system for the Fire Department’s
Firefighters and Police Department’s Patrolmen.
| The History of the Hackensack Fire Dept. EMS |
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