CEDAR GROVE, NJ — For the first time in 84 years, the Cedar Grove Ambulance & Rescue Squad will be standing down.

According to the Cedar Grove Ambulance & Rescue Squad (CGARS), it will be temporarily suspending local EMS service due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The decision is being made to protect the members of the all-volunteer squad, their families, fellow emergency responders and patients, spokespeople said.

READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know) The CGARS notified the Cedar Grove town manager, council and police chief of the temporary suspension on Monday. The township has made arrangements for 24-hour EMS coverage with Little Falls Rescue and Atlantic Medical Transport.



The choice to suspend service was difficult and emotional, the squad reported: "Having received word that a few of our members have exhibited signs and symptoms of the virus and may have contracted it, are seeking testing when tests are hard to come by, and waiting days for results, unfortunately, for the first time in 84 years of continuous and dedicated service, we cannot continue the operation of the squad for at least the next few weeks. We definitely expect and look forward to our squad members returning to active duty again and we will be able to provide our usual level of EMS service in the future." CGARS spokespeople continued:

"In these trying times, other neighboring squads and the paid services are facing similar issues with staffing and stress on their EMS membership, the same as our dedicated volunteer membership. We are thankful to the other agencies for their support. Several heroic members of our squad work by day as health care providers and still put in additional hours on a volunteer basis for the sake of Cedar Grove residents. In so many ways, this excruciating decision was the correct one for all concerned. Please only call 911 in an emergency situation, so that EMS response goes to the people who need it most. As we look ahead to the near future, look for the CGARS vehicles to roll again." The squad has been aware of the risk posed by COVID-19 for weeks, posting the following message via social media on March 15:

"Our members continue to be available to respond to emergencies but we are asking you to please follow these precautions during the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are quarantined (mandatory or self-imposed) in your home due to possible or confirmed COVID-19 exposure, PLEASE notify 911 when you call and advise the dispatcher. We also ask that you place a sign/note on your front door to alert our emergency responders to take infection-prevention precautions before entering your home or business. We need to protect our crews so that they will be able to continue to meet the emergency needs of the community. Elsewhere, there have been entire EMS companies quarantined after they have responded to quarantined homes and were not alerted before entering. Those first responders are now unavailable to help anyone for at least 14 days. In our department we cannot afford to have this happen and being VOLUNTEER we do not want to have to take it home to our families. Thank you for your understanding." Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Verona-Cedar Grove Facebook page. Send feedback and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com