On July 28, 1958, the Easton Emergency Squad’s charter was presented to nine members and officers by Judge Clinton “Budd” Palmer in courtroom #1 at the Northampton County Courthouse.  The officers were James Dervin, President; Harry Baleshta, Jr., Vice President; Frederick Ruhle, Secretary; and Richard Mansback, Treasurer.  The emergency squad members were Albert Brader Jr., Betty Brader, George Larison and William Hare.

In September 1958, the Easton Emergency Squad’s inaugural service began fulfilling the dream of Mr. James Dervin, and others who assisted throughout the taxing endeavor.  For several years afterward, emergency squad operations were operated out of Jim Dervin’s garage, located on the 600 block of Lincoln Street.  Soon after, ground was broken for the Easton Emergency Squad’s current location on 908 Packer Street.

Vast Improvements Over the Years

A milestone occurred in fall 1972 when five members of the Easton Emergency Squad conducted the first in-house Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class.  Thirty-three volunteers from neighboring squads in Easton, Forks, Plainfield, and Lower Mount Bethel Townships, and members from Phillipsburg and Northampton Country Civil defense organizations successfully completed the class.

Over two decades later, in 1996, the Easton Emergency Squad was approved for administration of Advanced Life Support (ALS) by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  Today, both career and volunteer paramedics, and emergency medical technicians work together supporting the squad’s improved emergency medical services.

In 1997, Williams Township designated the Easton Emergency Squad as their ALS provider, and in 2008, the Easton Emergency Squad merged operations with the Williams Townships Emergency Squad in an effort to streamline operations, increase manpower, and cut costs.  Emergency service operations are still coordinated from both the Packer Street and the Raubsville Road stations.