LAKELAND EMERGENCY SQUAD
RESCUE TEAM

The Lakeland Emergency Squad operates a rescue team, in addition to providing basic life support services. The rescue team provides vehicle extrication, fire scene support, search and rescue, heavy rescue, first responder rehab and more. The team is headed by the squad’s Deputy Chief and Rescue Sergeant.

The team operates a 2006 Chevrolet C5500 4×4 Crew Cab with a 12’ Anchor-Richey EVS rescue body. The truck is equipped with numerous hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life), rope rescue, air bags, jacks, cribbing and stabilizers, numerous hand tools, chain saws, metal cutting saws, air tools, 12,000lb winch, 5,000lb portable winch, misting fans, space heater, refridgerator, portable lights, SCBA’s, portable tents and chairs, chains and come-a-longs, and more. The team did most of the tool mounting when the truck was delivered back in December.

This truck replaced our 1979 International / Saulsbury heavy rescue truck. After years of research and months of defining our specifications the Township of Byram agreed to purchase a new truck for the team.

The team consists of fourteen members. These members are trained in vehicle extrication and heavy rescue operations. All of these members are cross-trained in basic life support, firefighting, haz-mat, communications and command and traffic control. These members are state trained and certified, including recertification every three years at Bergen County Rescue School. Additional training is done through in-house and out-of-town drills.

As protocol, the team responds to all motor vehicle accidents, technical rescues, fires and assists to our EMT’s for lifting and general assistance at medical calls.

The rescue team has responded to some notable calls in it’s 68 year history. We started out as an underwater recovery team. We’ve performed several dives over the decades. As services evolved we got into performing other types of rescue services, including vehicle rescue. In past years we have responded to cave rescues, mountain climbing accidents, trench rescues, mass evacuations and mass casualty incidents. Today, additional services are being researched and considered.

If you are interested in this type of volunteer work please download our membership application. If you work within our response area and are able to leave for emergencies we can use your assistance during the daytime. If you have any type of automotive background, such as body shop or auto repair, this would be right up your alley. If you like cutting up cars come join us.