Fanwood Dispatching Transferred to Union County/2010
Union County/Fanwood Police dispatcher Dan Kranz at work with observers, left to right, Tom Kranz, Fanwood Rescue Squad President; Mary Jane Kowalski, Union County Freeholder; Richard Trigo, Fanwood Police Chief; Kathy Mitchell, Fanwood Borough Councilwoman; John Piccola; Fanwood Deputy Fire Chief; David Clausen, Fanwood Fire Chief; Colleen Mahr, Mayor of Fanwood
Fanwood became the first town in Union County to have police, fire and EMS dispatched by Union County Police in a move predicted to save the town more than $230,000 over three years.
Melissa Lewis Training Fund Established/2010
In memory of the late wife of squad member Ian Lewis, FRS created a fund in her name to facilitate training for members faced with the elimination of state reimbursement for elective CEU courses.
Bob Kruthers, Volunteer of the Month/2009
Rally to Save the EMT Training Fund/2009
Volunteer EMT’s from across New Jersey rallied in Morristown on May 6, 2009, to urge the Corzine administration to restore the money it purged from the EMT Training Fund. The Training Fund pays for initial and ongoing training for volunteer EMTs who provide EMS coverage for many towns in New Jersey including Fanwood and Scotch Plains. Without it, volunteers or their squads will have to pay for training, something we had always counted on the state for. The Morristown squad and its Captain, Dominick Sandelli, deserve a lot of credit for staging the event. Fanwood squad members Jeff Carr and Robert Levine attended.
Blood Drives
Not Just Another Santa Parade/2008
Jim Drewes surprises Melissa Gassler with a proposal and a ringIt started innocently enough as a group photo before the Rescue Squad and Fire Department embarked on the annual Santa Parade through Fanwood on Saturday, December 13, 2008. After the first photo was taken, Santa approached firefighter/EMT Jimmy Drewes with a special gift. Jimmy took it, dropped to one knee and proposed on the spot to his longtime girlfriend, Melissa Gassler, EMT and regular Santa elf. He flashed the ring. Her eyes popped open. They hugged and kissed. The crowd went wild. Jimmy and Melissa then went on with the business of delivering gifts door to door to hundreds of Fanwood’s good little boys and girls.
House Fire, Martine Ave & Saville Row/2008
A house fire caused by a burning candle damaged much of the first floor of a home at 188 S. Martine Avenue in Fanwood the evening of Saturday, December 6, 2008. No injuries resulted but two pet dogs succumbed to smoke inhalation despite efforts by the Rescue Squad to revive them.
Union County Music Festival/2010
The Fanwood Rescue Squad sent crews to help provide EMS service to the Union County Music Festival in Clark in 2010.
Muhlenberg Hospital Ceases Acute Care/2008
Our closest and most often used hospital, Muhlenberg in Plainfield, closed to acute care in 2008 due to financial problems.
Shady Lane Fire/2008
The Rescue Squad responded to a house fire at 38 Shady Lane on Saturday, July 19, 2008, which left the home uninhabitable. The fire was started by a malfunction in a propane barbecue grill. No one was injured.
Flagpole Replaced/2008
The Rescue Squad dedicated its new flagpole on Memorial Day 2008, a fitting tribute to this beautiful renovation job led by squad member Courtney Slaten for his Eagle Scout project.
The Rescue Squad offered free CPR to Fanwood and Scotch Plains residents for EMS Week.60th ANNIVERSARY/2008
CPR-Defibrillator Saves/1973-2008
Evelyn Troy was saved in 2008 after suffering cardiac arrest while watching TV in her living room.
The first documented CPR save came in 1973 during the Memorial Day Parade in Fanwood. The Rescue Squad first used a portable defibrillator to save a life in April, 1996. The defibrillator was bought with the help of the Prudential Insurance Company through a program it called Helping Hearts. Some of those stories are found below.