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.
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.
FLYER
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| The History of the Hackensack Fire Dept. EMS |
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