"New" Squad 40

It is conceivable that a few of the persons reading this article might have served on this very vehicle at the time in 1974 when this carefully posed photo was taken at the Cecil R. Gehr Fire Combat Training Center at headquarters. Proudly displaying its new Chevrolet paramedic squad and all its gear is brand-new Paramedic Squad 40.

Sharp eyes may pick out several pieces of equipment which are no longer carried, including the E & J Resuscitator in the green case and the Orange Bio Com, for instance. The Stokes litter is more likely to be a Miller Board now and the small electric smoke ejector was replaced soon after on most Squads by the 2-cycle-engine yellow ejector with the airplane-type propeller and having over twice the air-moving ability of the smaller ejector. As I recall, one needed to anchor it firmly to the ground or floor.

Having been retired for going on 18 years, I have little knowledge of what additional items are carried on today's "Heavy Squads." If I ever come upon one, I'll be sure to check. Labor Day has passed; the real fire season is here. Be careful out there!

--Department Historian Dave Boucher