Our History

 In 1952, a cinder block garage was constructed by the members to house the ambulance. This building was located behind the Watchung Arts Center near the Watchung Library. The spirit of the borough was evident when the Watchung Volunteer Fire Department furnished portable lighting in the garage so squad members could work at nights. Many other residents cooperated with donations of materials or services to aid the squad in its endeavor.

 A Women's Auxiliary, whose membership consisted of squad member’s wives, was organized on August 11, 1952. This group raised funds for the squad and planned socials such as pot-luck dinners and dances. In 1963, the Constitution of the Watchung Rescue Squad was amended to accept women as members. The first two women were accepted in 1964 to help with day time coverage. The auxiliary ceased to exist as more women joined the squad.

 On April 26, 1964, ground was broken on property leased from the borough on the Watchung Circle, to construct the present building. The new building was dedicated on May 16, 1965. The building was designed to be a meeting room, kitchen, garage, and as a temporary hospital in the event of a major emergency.

 In the early days of the squad, members were dispatched by a telephone chain. One member served as dispatcher for a week at a time, being notified by the police that the squad was needed for an emergency. In May of 1966, four plectron radio receivers were purchased and shared.

 In 1974 the squad purchased a second ambulance, which was a combination ambulance and crash truck. The town had grown to need two vehicles to answer calls. A Cadet Corps was added in November 1983 for teens aged 16 to 18. Most of the cadets have gone on to full membership and ride with the squad when they are home from college. Several cadets have served squad line officers.

 An Extrication Team was formed in February 1989 as the squad saw an increase in the number of calls for vehicle entrapment. As a joint effort with the volunteer fire department, the team responds to motor vehicle entrapments and other technical rescues. Also in 1989, the squad began accepting Affiliate Members for people interested in helping the squad in ways other than patient care. Some of these members have helped the squad by fund-raising and record keeping.

The squad started Driver category of membership in 1990. Drivers are trained in CPR and ambulance operations. This allows two fully trained EMT's to provide patient care today. The squad responds to just under 700 calls a year with its two ambulances and crash truck purchased in 1995.

In January 2003, the squad for the first time in it's over 50 years of round-the-clock volunteer coverage of Watchung, was faced with a severe lack of riding members to adequately provide coverage from 6am to 6pm Monday thru Friday. 

In 2007 the squad unanimously voted to disband our joint-extrication team after 18 years of service. The Watchung Fire Department assumed all extrication and rescue responsibilities January 1, 2008.

April 2008 the squad begins the expansion of the ambulance bays with money which was raised for our building fund. April 13th the squad broke ground with Mayor Ellis in attendance and other members of the borough council.