Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad

06/20/2026

On Thursday, the Rescue Squad provided an EMS stand-by for the graduation ceremonies at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. While the overcast weather may not have been the best for photos, it kept the temperature down a little which helped limit heat-related illnesses.

The Rescue Squad provided three BLS ambulances for the detail, with Whitehouse Rescue Squad, Readington, NJ providing two additional ambulances. South Branch Emergency Services, Inc. also assisted with their Rehab 365 and their cooling tent.

Several emergency calls were handled in our service area during the ceremony as well.

Congratulations to all of the 2026 HCRHS Graduates!

06/18/2026

On Monday 15 June at 1301 Hours, the Rescue Squad was dispatched to the Heron Glen Golf Course in Raritan Township for an overturned golf cart down an embankment with one subject possibly trapped.

Rescue Squad units arrived on scene and made their way to the area between the 7th and 8th holes. Two patients were aided at the scene. One patient was transported to Hunterdon Medical Center by Squad ambulance, and the second was flown to a trauma center by NJSP NorthSTAR medevac for treatment.

The Squad was assisted at the scene by the Raritan Township Police Department, Raritan Township Fire Company, Hunterdon County Park Rangers, and the Hunterdon Medical Center MICU.

Units were available in about an hour.

Earlier that morning, the Rescue Squad handled a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at State Highway 31 and Church Street in Flemington Borough. This patient was also flown by NJSP NorthSTAR, this time from the HMC landing zone. Assisting at the scene of this crash was Flemington Borough Police Department and HMC MICU.

Units were available in about an hour. These were two of the fifteen emergency calls answered by the Squad on Monday. The Squad has responded to 41 calls in the last three days.

06/03/2026

On Thursday May 28th at 1113 Hours, the Flemington-Raritan Rescue Squad responded as part of the Hunterdon County Urban Search and Rescue Task Force to a motor vehicle crash into a building on Main Street in Glen Gardner Borough.

Heavy Rescue 495 and Technical Rescue 495 with eight personnel between the two units responded. Upon arrival, the driver of the truck was out of the vehicle and under the care of EMS. The initial responding agencies had evacuated the building and secured the utilities. Extensive damage to the stone basement wall was observed, leaving a substantial portion of the first floor of the building unsupported. HCUSAR personnel constructed two (2) two post vertical shores in order to temporarily support the first floor until contractors could make repairs.

Rescue Squad units were clear in about two hours.

06/03/2026

What happened to the ambulance??!!

It's ok, everything is great. The Rescue Squad's BLS Ambulance 4954 has been out of service for several months now. It is getting a new chassis and being completely refurbished at VCI Emergency Vehicles in Berlin NJ. The process involves taking the ambulance module off of the old chassis. The exterior and interior of the module is completely restored - new paint, new flooring, new lenses on the warning lights, new upholstery on the seats...pretty much like new. The module is then remounted on a brand new Ford E450 chassis.

The module of the ambulance was showing the wear and tear of ten years of service but was in good physical condition. The chassis however, well not so much. By taking the good module, refurbishing it and mounting it on a brand new chassis, the Squad will save approximately $100,000 over a purchasing a new ambulance. The decision whether to refurbish or to replace is based on the overall condition of both the module and the chassis.

When 4954 returns in a couple of months, it will essentially be a brand new ambulance that will continue to serve the community for another ten years of lifesaving service. Once 4954 is back in service, BLS 4955 will be sent out for the same process.

06/03/2026

MAY 2026 STATISTICS

For the month of May, the Rescue Squad responded to 288 emergency calls, up from 282 calls or 2.1% compared to May 2025. So far for the year, the Rescue Squad has responded to 1535 emergency calls, an increase of 8.01% compared to the same five month period during 2025.

The calls by municipality for May were as follows:
Flemington Borough - 46
Raritan Township - 199
Delaware Township - 13
East Amwell Township - 19
Kingwood Township - 2
City of Lambertville - 5
Stockton Borough - 1
Franklin Township - 1
Glen Gardner - 1
Town of Clinton - 1
Out of County - 1

During May, the Rescue Squad's volunteer EMT's provided 949 hours of duty time, with the Squad's career staff providing an additional 1845 hours of duty time to maintain our in-house staffed ambulances. There is always one staffed ambulance on duty at all times, with two and sometimes three staffed during peak call volume times. Our average response time remains among the fastest in the county and state, at 7:40 minutes average from dispatch to arriving on scene. (Hunterdon County average is 13 minutes / State average is 15 minutes per NJ DOH EMS). This average includes second, third and "scramble crew" calls. The Squad's volunteer EMT's have contributed 4746 hours of duty time during the first five months of 2026. These volunteer hours only account for duty crew time and do not include the hours spent on training and other Squad activities.

The Rescue Squad made 335 vehicle responses in May 2026 (up 5.8% compared to May 2025). 1757 vehicle responses have been made during the first five months of 2026. The Rescue Squad made contact with 259 patients (up 8.1%) and Squad ambulances transported 191 patients to the hospital in May (up .10%). So far this year, the Rescue Squad has transported 1058 patients.

During May, the Squad's Rescue Services Unit participated in the four-day Rescue Challenge hosted by the Technical Rescue Association of Virginia, as well as one in-house rescue drill. The Squad also participated in the Hunterdon County Urban Search and Rescue Task Force quarterly full-scale exercise. Two Hunterdon County USAR responses were handled, including a construction accident in East Amwell Township and a vehicle into a building in Glen Gardner. Several serious motor vehicle crashes were handled by the Squad along with several traumatic injuries. A monthly EMS drill and a "Thirds" / Junior Member drill was conducted as well. The Rescue Squad participated in the Memorial Day parade and provided a BLS stand-by in Flemington and attended the Memorial Day services in Raritan Township. The Squad said our goodbyes and mourned the loss of Life Member Peter Serrone who passed away on May 18th.

We are always looking for people who want to help serve their community as volunteer emergency medical technicians. If you think you might be interested in joining the Squad, check out www.frfars.org/join for additional information. See less

The Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad is equipped with five state-of-the-art 911 BLS ambulances and several specialized rescue and support units

05/29/2026

Wednesday evening was the Squad's Rescue Services Unit drill. After a lot of training in May, members took some time to practice tower climbing with by-pass lanyards and work positioning belts, and took a few minutes to relax and enjoy the view.

As members were wrapping up the training, the Squad was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on State Highway 31 and Walter Foran Boulevard. One subject was transported to Hunterdon Medical Center for further treatment and several others were evaluated at the scene. A second crash on State Highway 31 north of Bartles Corner was dispatched a few minutes after the first one, with an additional Squad ambulance evaluating one subject at the scene who refused transport.

05/26/2026

The Rescue Squad participated in the Raritan Township Memorial Day ceremony at the municipal building this morning before heading over to Flemington Borough for the Memorial Day parade on Main Street.

In addition to the Squad apparatus in the parade, our personnel staffed three additional BLS Ambulances for stand-by coverage during the event and to handle emergency calls as well.

Thanks to Rescue Squad Life Member Nancy Medianka for the parade video.

05/18/2026

The Officers and Members of the Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad are deeply saddened to learn this morning of the passing of Rescue Squad Life Member FF/ EMT Peter Anthony Serrone after a courageous battle with ALS.

The arrangements are listed below through Holcombe - Fisher Funeral Home.

Rest Easy Pete...You fought a heck of a fight!

View Peter Anthony Serrone's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/18/2026

On Monday 18 May at 0909 Hours, the Rescue Squad was dispatched mutual aid to the bridge construction site on Van Lieus Road in East Amwell Township for a possible confined space rescue for a subject "fallen 14 feet into hole".

Heavy Rescue 495, Technical Rescue 495, BLS Ambulance 4953, and Chief 495 responded with fifteen members. Upon arrival, Rescue Squad Chief Hoffman assumed command of the incident and requested the balance of the Hunterdon County Urban Search and Rescue Task Force and Raritan Township Fire Company Tower Ladder 21. A medevac helicopter was placed on standby due to the mechanism of injury.

Rescue Squad members entered the excavation after monitoring the air quality in the hole. Squad EMTs provided patient care, immobilizing the patient on a Miller board and then packaging them into a basket stretcher. Meanwhile, rescue crews rigged up a dual rope system using Tower Ladder 21 as a high point change of direction so that the patient could be lifted up out of the hole, over the sheet pile shoring, and back to grade. Amwell Valley Fire Company established a landing zone in an adjacent field.

The patient was lifted from the excavation in a horizontal position due to his injuries. Tag lines were used to maneuver the stretcher around several obstacles in the excavation. Once back on grade, the rope systems and stretcher bridle were disconnected and the patient was then carried directly to the NJSP NorthSTAR medevac. The patient was removed from the basket stretcher and loaded into the helicopter. He was then flown to the trauma center at Capital Health - Trenton for treatment.

Also assisting at the scene were South Branch Emergency Services, Inc. Hunterdon County Hazardous Materials Response Unit, Hunterdon County, NJ - Department of Public Safety, Hopewell Fire Department, and the New Jersey State Police.

Units were available in about sixty minutes.

05/18/2026

This EMS Week, we recognize the EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency services personnel who serve the Flemington‑Raritan community every day. Since 1974, EMS Week has honored the work of emergency medical professionals nationwide — and here at home, that work continues around the clock.

Over the past year, the Flemington‑Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad responded to more than 3,700 calls, assessing or treating over 3,300 patients — a figure equivalent to one in ten residents in our service area. These numbers reflect the dedication of the 100+ FRFARS EMTs, firefighters, and trainees working towards their initial certifications who commit their time and skill to providing EMS service to our community.

We also recognize the efforts of the many EMS professionals we train and work alongside — including personnel from neighboring EMS squads, ground and air ALS services, and other partner agencies who share our commitment to strong, coordinated emergency care across the region.

This year’s national theme, “Improving Outcomes, Together,” speaks to the collective effort behind every successful response.

Thank you to everyone in EMS — here at FRFARS, across our partner agencies, and beyond — for the professionalism and dedication you bring to the patients you serve.