Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad

07/25/2025

The Rescue Squad collects donated books in order to raise funds to help support the operations of the organization. The drop-off box is located on the Reaville Avenue side of the station's parking lot.

07/15/2025

Last night, Rescue Squad personnel responded as part of a Hunterdon County, NJ - Department of Public Safety Water Rescue Task Force into Somerset County to assist with widespread severe flash flooding. High Water 495, Utility 495 with Marine 495 and 495-1, and Car 495 responded with fourteen swiftwater rescue technicians under the direction of Rescue Chief Tom Hoffman. Additional personnel staffed ambulances and the Heavy Rescue at the station while crews were out of town.

After arriving at a staging area in Bridgewater, task force units were eventually deployed to the Green Brook and North Plainfield area. High Water 495 checked numerous vehicles along Route 22 for occupants along with other task force units. Both of the Squad's marine units were deployed, eventually locating and safely evacuating thirteen people (including an infant and an elderly subject) and two dogs from flooded homes. Task Force units performed numerous targeted searches for trapped residents and welfare checks in areas where the water had begun to recede. Personnel from the different County agencies worked together to safely accomplish the various tasks, thanks in part to common training.

Units were released by Somerset County around 0100 Hours and returned back to quarters. Unfortunately, the boat trailer experienced a flat tire on the way home, but the crew made quick work of changing it. Once back at the station, personnel deconned the personal protective equipment and the boats, and washed the mud from the vehicles. Personnel were released around 0300 Hours.

Hunterdon County agencies that responded as part of the Task Force included:
High Bridge FD
Kingwood Twp VFC
Whitehouse Rescue Squad
South Branch Emergency Services
Flemington-Raritan Rescue Squad
Hunterdon County Dept of Public Safety
(This included three High Water Rescue Vehicles and six boats).

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this disaster.

07/14/2025

Happening Now - High Water 495 is enroute to Somerset County as part of a Hunterdon County, NJ - Department of Public Safety water rescue task force to assist with rescues due to flash flooding. Additional personnel are standing by at the station to staff marine units if requested.

TURN AROUND - DON'T DROWN!!

07/13/2025

On Wednesday evening, the Rescue Squad set out to practice some small boat handling skills on the South Branch of the Raritan River at Three Bridges. Members launched the Avon raft and the NRS "banana boat" and practiced various skills. Unfortunately, an approaching severe thunderstorm brought the drill to an early and abrupt end.

Personnel returned to the station and cleaned up all of the equipment.

THE TRAINING NEVER ENDS!!!

07/13/2025

On a very warm Tuesday 8 July, the Rescue Squad assisted at the Raritan Township Police Department's Junior Police Academy. The Squad's EMTs provided a tour of BLS Ambulance 4952 and demonstrated some of the patient care equipment for the junior recruits.

The crew of Technical Rescue 495 then performed a vehicle extrication demonstration for the class, with the crew from 4952 providing patient care. The tents provided some shade for both the recruits and Squad members during the demonstration.

Glad to assist the RTPD with this great learning opportunity for young people from the Township.

07/07/2025

Stay aware of changing weather conditions this afternoon - heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are possible. TURN AROUND - DON'T DROWN!

There is increasing confidence in a highly localized area of heavy rain (as much as 4-6 inches) along the I-95 corridor from around Philly to Trenton this afternoon/evening. While not everybody in this area will experience that rainfall, those that do can expect flash flooding.

Make sure to have a way to receive any warnings that are issued, and follow them closely.

You can get all information on the forecast and any flooding at our website:

https://www.weather.gov/phi/

07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day!

Squad members began their 4th of July weekend by providing standby support to the annual Flemington Borough Fireworks. Despite a few raindrops early in the evening, the display kicked off as planned just after 9:15 PM.

Members staffed two BLS units, Tech Rescue 495, and MSU 495, which were staged at the event. A squad officer and dispatcher reported to the unified command post to facilitate seamless coordination of units should any incidents arise. An additional BLS unit was staged at our station to provide first-due 9-1-1 service to the community during the fireworks. In total, 15 members were available to respond to any emergencies for the duration of the fireworks display.

Luckily, no medical emergencies were reported and our team was able to enjoy the fireworks alongside our families, friends, and neighbors.

We wish everyone a happy, safe, and enjoyable Fourth of July!

07/02/2025

The Rescue Squad has taken delivery of the new BLS Ambulance 4953. It is a 2025 Ford E450 - Horton type 3 ambulance. The rig was purchased by the Township of Raritan for the Squad, with the Squad contributing a portion of the cost through Flemington Borough capital fund donations.

The new ambulance is dedicated to Life Member Peter Serrone. Pete started with the Squad as a junior member and continued for many years as a firefighter / EMT before moving from the area. He returned to the Squad a couple of years later as a part-time career EMT. Pete went on to become one of our longest serving career staff members and was active with both EMS and Rescue. One of his many responsibilities with the Squad was caring for our fleet of vehicles. He always kept everything in top shape.

Pete is battling ALS - "Lou Gehrig's Disease". In a move that surprised almost nobody, when he picked the color of his wheelchair, he picked ORANGE!

Yesterday afternoon, several members took the ambulance to Pete's home for him to check it out.

Thanks Pete for everything you have done for the Squad over the years!

The new ambulance will enter service after being equipped and inspected by the Department of Health.

06/30/2025

Throughout the beginning of June, three Rescue Squad members completed the HCESTC's Rope Rescue - Operations / Low Angle class at the training center in Annandale. The thirty-two hour program focuses on rope rescue techniques for steep slopes and embankments as well as ladder-based rope systems for industrial or construction accidents.

FF/EMT Coral Sellers, FF Dave Brown and FF/EMT Gary Steitz all completed the training. Chief Tom Hoffman, Asst Chief Travis Hoffman, FF Bob Schilp, FF/EMT Brett Colavito and Rescue Capt Gary Breuer presented the course as HCESTC instructors.

THE TRAINING NEVER ENDS...

06/30/2025

MAY MONTHLY REPORT
(Got a little behind but didn't want to forget about May!)

The Rescue Squad responded to 282 emergency calls during the month of May. Raritan Township accounted for 198 calls, Flemington Borough had 50 calls, Delaware Township had 15 calls, and East Amwell Township had 11 calls. The remaining eight calls were mutual aid responses to other municipalities. The Rescue Squad made 324 vehicles responses to handle the calls during May, with 238 patient contacts and 193 patients transported to medical facilities by Squad ambulances.

May was a busy month for the Rescue Squad in other ways. Four members completed the Concrete Breaching and Breaking class, and three completed the Confined Space Rescue - Operations Level course. Both of these classes were conducted at the Hunterdon County Emergency Services Training Center. Also in May, thirteen members of the Squad participated in the annual Technical Rescue Association of Virginia's Rescue Challenge, held this year in Harrisonburg VA. This four day training event provides teams with eight grueling rescue scenarios, each having to be completed in three hours. This year, the team was faced with a cave rescue, water rescue, confined space rescue at a commercial brewery, a ski lift evacuation, a multi-patient vehicle crash, a complicated trench rescue, a cliff rescue, and a building collapse / high angle scenario. Our personnel took time off of work and spent time away from families in order to participate and hone our rescue skills.

EMS Week took place May 18-25. In recognition of EMS Week, the Squad's EMS officers teamed up with Hunterdon Health to develop and present a course entitled "Self Care Strategies: Supporting First Responder Mental Health in Self and Colleagues". This class was presented at Hunterdon Medical Center by staff from Behavioral Health and was open to all EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement personnel from around the County.

The Rescue Squad provided an EMS stand-by for the Flemington - Raritan School District PTO's "Color Run" on Sunday May 18th at J.P. Case School. The Squad also stood-by at the Memorial Day parade in Flemington after attending the Memorial Service at the Raritan Township Municipal Building (sorry for being a few minutes late that morning - our members were handling three emergency calls that were received within fifteen minutes of each other just when we had planned on leaving for the service). We also provided a stand-by at a benefit event at Aspen Ice in Raritan Township to raise funds to offset medical expenses for Rescue Squad Life Member Peter Serrone who is battling ALS / "Lou Gehrig's Disease".

We will put together a June Report once the June call statistics are received later this week. Have a safe and healthy July 4th week!

06/19/2025

This morning starting at 0830, the Rescue Squad provided an EMS stand-by for the Hunterdon Central Regional High School's graduation ceremony. The Squad staffed four ambulances for the event, with Whitehouse Rescue Squad, Readington, NJ staffing an additional ambulance. Six persons were evaluated for heat-related issues with two being transported to Hunterdon Medical Center for further treatment. Rescue Squad units were clear of the stand-by around 1145 Hours.

Thanks to the Marching Red Devils Band Parents Association and the Red Devils Orchestra Parents Group for dropping off two dozen Duck Donuts at the Squad building this afternoon.

06/14/2025

Despite the weather, today has been a busy day for the Rescue Squad. The Squad hosted an EMT refresher course at the station today that was attended by members with upcoming certification deadlines approaching. From 1100 to 1600, other members attended the Flemington Public Safety Day at The Shoppes at Flemington. Flemington Volunteer Fire Department, Flemington Borough Police Department, Flemington Office of Emergency Management and Flemington CERT were all in attendance despite the rain. Thanks to everyone who came out to the event.

And, as always, our duty crews were kept busy with emergency calls throughout the day, answering ten calls as of this posting since midnight.