EMS

Ambulance Service / EMS History

Historical Rosters

December 26, 1915: This is the first automobile ambulance in the city. It belonged to the Paterson General Hospital.

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

The ambulance service that existed in Paterson prior to 1970 had deteriorated and the Medical Society and Paterson Hospitals lobbied for better service.

Dayspring Collection

Photo of Metzler's Ambulance Service (East 18th and Ellison Streets)

Courtesy Alan Crawford

June 11, 1970: Not every one (FMBA and PBA) accepted the ambulance as proposed

Dayspring Collection

June 8, 1970: The Fire department Ambulance service is approved by the Board of Police and Fire Commisioners

Dayspring Collection

September 16, 1970: Firemen declared eligible to work part-time on the proposed ambulance service

September 29, 1970: City Fathers have a decision to make regarding proposals by Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring

Dayspring Collection

November 14, 1970: The Fire department Ambulance service is established under the command of Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring.

Dayspring Collection

November 14, 1970: Here is the first page of the official journal documenting the first ever response of the Paterson Ambulance Service. The crew of unit 92 at Southside FH was Robert Wagner and George Roper and they reported for duty at 11PM on November 14th. Note that Mayor Kramer and both Chief Harold Kane (very unusual for that time of night) and DC Paul Peterson were in quarters. Just 5 minutes into the new day - November 15 at 12:05 AM the first run occurred. It was an auto accident at Main and Leslie Streets and the victim was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital. Within 13 minutes #92 was back in service. (Patient names redacted)

Unit 92 In bay at Southside FH Alan Crawford photo 1972

November 14, 1970: Below is the first page on the official journal of Ambulance 91. The crew were John and Emory Merlino who reported for duty at 10:45 (changed to 8) PM at quarters of Engine Company 8 at 71 Wayne Avenue. Erroneously the attendants forgot to write in the new date - Saturday, November 15, 1970. The first run was at 1:03 AM to an auto accident at Arch Street and Presidential Boulevard. Of interest, is they referred to the ambulance as Car 91. Also note that DC Bakanauskas dropped off a battery for a police radio. During a transition period changing ambulance dispatch from PPD to PFD, ambulances could respond to PPD or FAO directives

November 14, 1970: Below is the first page on the official journal of Ambulance 93 located at the quarters of Engine Company 10 at 198 17th Avenue. The initial crew were H Bickel and Al Cabrino who reported for duty at 10:05 PM. Their first response was on November 15th at 12:42 AM to 435 Hamilton Avenue.T hey had a total of 8 runs before 9 AM.

Unite 93 at 198 17th Avenue Firehouse - 1970

November 17, 1970: Newspaper Editorial re the new PFD service

November 20, 1970: 91 receives a new (different) ambulance with 8137 miles on it

Paterson EMS starts smoothly

Ambulance Service functions well. Initial units were at Wayne Avenue Firehouse (91), Southside Firehouse on Getty Avenue (92), 17th Avenue (93) with Car 90 as the supervisor. Units ultimately added to 17th Avenue (93) and then Riverside Firehouses (94)

Dayspring Collection

Shown is the first official PFD ambulance incident report - Form was filled out for every run

Dayspring Collection

April 2, 1971: Ambulance 91 receives new Ford Van, with bodywork by Superior Coach . Within 4 months 7600 miles were put on the vehicle.

From rear inside rear cover of journal

EMT Tom Dayspring and Car 91 Ford in bay at Hillcrest FH in spring 1972

May 5, 1971

Dayspring Collection

May 10, 1971:

Dayspring Collection

May 16, 1971; Below is the first page on the official journal of Ambulance 94 located at the Riverside Firehouse on Lafayette Street. The initial crew were Robert Morgan and Jim Farrell who reported for duty by 12:00 AM. Their first response was 44 minutes later at12:44 AM to 175 Harrison Street. They had a total of 3 runs before ~8 AM. Director, Assistant Chief Joe Dayspring was present at onset and a frequent visitor that day.

Ambulance #94 at Riverside Firehouse 1971

Ford Van: Body by Superior - T Dayspring photo

At bay at Riverside Firehouse - T Dayspring photo

T Dayspring photo

EMT Tom Dayspring cleaning the rig

May 25, 1971: 9:00 PM From the Journal of Ambulance 94. To check on operations, Sister Loretta Agnes, accompanied by Assistant Chief Dayspring (Director of the Ambulance) visited the Riverside Firehouse to observe operations of the newly opened unit. (Patient names redacted)

May 25, 1971: 10:47 PM AC Dayspring, closely monitoring the new service, responds on a 94 call

June 1971 PFD News:

June 30, 1971: 4:00 PM Ambulance 91 moves from 71 Wayne Avenue Firehouse to the new Hillcrest Firehouse at 221 Union Avenue. The official opening of the new Firehouse was July 1, 1971.

Written inside front cover of original journal

September 2, 1971: Article on ambulance service

Dayspring Collection

1972: Assistant Chief Paul Peterson becomes Director of Ambulance Service

AC Paul Peterson and AC Joseph Dayspring taken May 1981 during the latter's last day on the job

March 1972:

1972 - Dayspring Collection

Journal of Unit 91 March 24, 1972

March 1972: Statistics from the 4 ambulance companies (after 16 months of existence)

1972 Great Falls Festival

Great Falls Festival 1972 Alan Crawford photo

Late 1972: Ambulance Division Headquarters established at 71 Wayne Avenue

Unit 95 at Wayne Avenue

Ambulance Supervisor Hank Kettman on right and FF Bill McMasters on left at Ambulance Headquarters at 71 Wayne Avenue

April 1973 Directive on Command of Ambulance Services. At this time Assistant Chief Paul Peterson was director of the Ambulance Division

October 12, 1973: Civil Service testing required for ambulance division

Firefighter Charles L Walker (hired by EMS in 6/1//73

October 5, 1978: Hazmat incident at Passaic County Community College

Squad 1's Gary Giese on left. EMT Jack Baker in center and Mark Veenema on right -- Haycock Collection

~Early 1980s: EMS Supervisor's Helmet (Jim Durkin)

March 17, 1983 directive re spare ambulances

October 15, 1984 rescue at railroad. On right carrying stretcher is then EMT Director and future Chief of Department John Mauro. To the left is EMT John Thomas and to right of Mauro is EMT Bob Flaker.

Driver Steve Tubman ? 1985 90th Anniversary Parade

1985 views of EMT supervisor gig and 91 at Hillcrest Fire House on Union Avenue

John Mauro (future Chief Engineer) at right -- Courtesy Michael Ventimiglia

Captain Michael Ventimigia w white shirt & radio

July 4, 1993: PFD Mass Casualty Unit started under Chief Mauro (North Jersey Herald News)

Ventimiglia Collection

The vehicle was refurbished totally from donations since money was very tight in those days. It was built by all volunteers most notably, B/C Terry Pelligrino and D/C Scott Mac Gilvray and Captain Ventimiglia. Other members helped put it together using equipment from the old Rescue truck (radios and such). The bus was used a few times for big fires and accidents. It went to Liberty State Park for the WTC event in 2011. There was no call sign for the bus it was simply requested as the Mass Casualty Vehicle.

The bus was one of two vehicles PFD put together because the budget could not afford to purchase equipment that was not used on a regular basis: it was difficult keeping first line apparatus and vehicles on the road.

The other vehicle built from donations was the first Mobile Command vehicle. It was a smaller bus called "Field Comm" by fire alarm. We used it much more than the MCV. Prior to this PFD used the back of the old Rescue truck as a command post and it was very cramped and not equipped very well.

Comments from Chief John Mauro: Captain Michael Ventimiglia deserves most of the credit as he developed, coordinated and supervised the operation. It came at a time when funds were low and the state was biting at our heels to get something in place to fill the need for such a vehicle. Captain Ventimiglia spent a great amount of time on this project to comply with NJ state regs. Other firefighters assisted. Once again the PFD members rose to the challenge with their assistance and hard work. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that the vehicle itself was acquired via EMT Supv. Jim Durkin from an associate who fully donated the unit. Again, many thanks to Captain Michael Ventimiglia and Supv. Durkin for their efforts and hard work to make the project come to fruition.

At Barnert Hospital ER

95 and Truck 1 at Hillcrest Firehouse

EMT Supervisor Fred Sands and BC Earl Plavier at fire scene

Tour Commander gig and 91 at Hillcrest FH

June 25, 2003: at 125 Presidential Blvd fire scene

Marty Pelta Photo

Caring for Captain Bob Hrib -- Marty Pelta Photo

January 4, 1995 Passing of FF and EMT Steve Tubman

November 18, 1995

2009

2010 Arrival of New Ambulances

March 2016: Ambulance 94B at Northside Firehouse

(Brandon Marsch photo)

September 2016: Conglomeration of Emergency Vehicles enroute to St Joseph's Hospital with a CPR in Progress -- including Paterson Fire EMS, St Joseph's Paramedics, Engine Company 5, Paterson Fire EMS Supervisor and 4 Paterson Police Units

October 29, 2016: Paterson NJ shooting on Godwin Ave near Rosa Parks Blvd. Video shows units transported the shooting victim to St Josephs Trauma center in Paterson, NJ Ron Bombaro video

December 2016: EMS Emblem embossed on table in Chief's Offices (kitchen) at McBride Avenue Firehouse

December 15, 2016: Ambulance 92 at Hillcrest Firehouse

Dayspring photo

December 15, 2016: Ambulance 94 at Northside Firehouse

Dayspring Photo

June 2017: New ambulance not yet in service

July 6, 2017: Ron Bombaro video of new ambulance and St. Joseph's Hospital MICU

September 2017: New ambulance Units 92 and 96 at McBride Avenue Firehouse

December 28, 2017 95 at Riverside Firehouse (T Dayspring photos)

March 23, 2018: Unit 97 at McBride Avenue Firehouse

Todd Hollritt photo

May 19, 2018: Ambulance 96 responding from Southside Firehouse Michael Saggau Jr video

May 24, 2018: 4 new rigs arrive at PFD. Ford cabs with Ambulance by Demers. Vendor was First Priority Emergency Vehicles (FPG).

L-R: DC Kevin Hancock, Chief Brian McDermott, Captain Thomas Dyk (Ambulance Specification Chairman) and FPG Company Representative Ken Clark. Not pictured is FF Robert Zeidler (Ambulance Specification Committee Member)

Department Headquarters - McBride Avenue

PFD markings yet to be applied

June 29, 2018: Above ambulances now have PFD markings - Units 91, 94, 95 and 97

June 30, 2018: Main and Ward Street accident - An early morning crash that had a PFD Ambulance overturned in the downtown is under investigation. It happened near the intersection of Main and Ward streets just before 4 a.m. when a vehicle collided with the ambulance causing the ambulance to overturn with a pregnant woman inside according to reports. RLS Media photos

DC Ryan Murray

August 6, 2018: Ron Bombaro video

August 22, 2018: Totowa Avenue MVA

Ron Bombaro photo

September 13, 2018: Fundraising event at St. Joseph's Hospital

In front DC (TC) Mike Fleming, DC Ryan Murray, DC Kevin Hancock, Chief McDermott

October 25, 2018: Unit 97 at McBride Avenue quarters

Todd Hollritt photo

October 28, 2018: Touch a Truck Day at PFD Headquarters - St Joseph's Hospital used in PFD's extra alarm protocol and use for REHAB (Rehabilitation which refers to as FF exit building they go to a designated area to cool off/warm up, rehydrate and get vitals checked if needed). During extreme weather they have tents with heaters, fans, etc.