Renovations to begin soon
on new rescue squad home
EAST BRUNSWICK — More than 18 months after a suspicious fire claimed its building, two ambulances and a rescue truck, the East Brunswick Rescue Squad is looking forward to the renovation of its new headquarters.
The rescue squad’s former building, located behind the Colonial Diner, was destroyed on March 24, 1999. The fire consumed three vehicles valued at nearly $500,000. Since then, the group has operated out of the District 2 Firehouse on Willow Street.
"They’ve been wonderful hosts, but you get tired of being a guest," said Larry Matrale, rescue squad president.
The rescue squad has purchased the former distribution center of the Home News Tribune at the intersection of Cranbury and Summerhill roads.
"We actually bought the building a year ago and were supposed to start construction, but the Home News couldn’t get out of the building until last month," said Matrale.
In preparation for its new use, the building will get a new roof and will be gutted inside to make room for sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, ambulance bays and the necessary sprinkler and ventilation systems.
"We have been hoping to get the outside work done before the weather gets real cold and do the inside work during the real bad weather," Matrale said.
Once construction begins, the building should be ready for occupancy within about four months.
The location, meanwhile, "is pretty ideal," said Matrale. "It gives us easy access to the main arteries in town." While the old building "was kind of hidden by the diner," Matrale said, the new building will turn a very visible face to the public.
The rescue squad was founded in 1952 and the charter members — somewhere between 10 and 20 people — took out second mortgages on their homes to build the first rescue squad facility.
The group now has about 25 active members. "We are short-handed and we are always recruiting," Matrale said.
Volunteers are required to have advanced first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.
"Once they have those, they can start riding on the ambulance," Matrale said. Eventually, each volunteer is required to take an emergency medical technician class and decide the depth of his or her commitment to the squad.
The rescue squad has full-time memberships, requiring 36 hours of service a month, and associate memberships, requiring 18 hours of service. The rescue squad averages 3,500 calls a year.
"That is why we need more members. If you want to give something to the community, do something for others, feel good about yourself, this is the place to be," said Matrale. "You can save a life every day — literally."
Those interested in joining the rescue squad should call (732) 238-8739, or e-mail [email protected]. The squad’s Web site is www.ebrs.org.

