By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Manville’s own First Aid and Rescue Squad was one of the 14 emergency management service agencies who helped at the Macy’s July 4th fireworks in the West New York area last week.
Four members of the squad were on standby in case of an emergency for the estimated 1.5 million people in attendance.
Capt. Dave Kohler, Lt. Robyn Barb, EMT Rebecca Burke and driver Laura Toth provided EMS coverage to a four-block area, including a park in the West New York area at 54th and Blvd East.
”Somerset County received a mutual aid request from Hudson County Office of Emergency Management requesting ambulances and manpower to assist their units with EMS coverage,” Capt. Kohler said. “Manville sent one ambulance with four members, three of which were EMTs.”
The squad arrived at staging just before 4 p.m. The ambulance was inspected by bomb-sniffing dogs from both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, and an incident briefing was conducted by the New Jersey EMS taskforce.
At 7 p.m., all the equipment and personnel were assigned, then deployed until 10:30 p.m. Manville arrived home around 12:30 a.m., Capt. Kohler said.
”While we were positioned in our assigned posting area, our crew was broken down into two teams,” he said. “We divided our coverage area into north and south; each team covering approximately two blocks. During our deployment, there was zero illness or injuries that required EMS assistance, however, three lost children who were separated from their families were reunited with the assistance of EMS and West New York PD.”
This was the first time Manville has participated in this event. Capt. Kohler said he was proud to be a part of it.
”I felt very pleased to be able to assist another community at their time of need,” he said. “Over the years, the Manville Rescue Squad has needed assistance from agencies that were both local as well as agencies that were out of our county EMS network.”
While just one of the ambulances from Manville was helping out, the squad was still in full service back home.
”I’d also like to stress that adequate EMS/rescue services coverage was still available in town by the Manville Rescue Squad,” Capt. Kohler said.
For more information and to see some photos taken at by the members while in service, visit www.manvillerescuesquad.org/.

