Parade Of Over 40 Fire Squads Lights Up Princeton Medical Center

PRINCETON, NJ — Around 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 18, the street outside Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center lit up with lights and sirens.

More than 40 fire companies and rescue squads from Central Jersey honored staff at the hospital with a parade of fire and rescue trucks.

Organized by the Plainsboro Fire Company, the parade looped around Route 1 and included Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch.

“It was a surprise for our medical workers,” said Plainsboro fire chief Scott Kivet. “It was remarkable to see the range of emotions – surprise, tears and then joy.”

(Plainsboro Fire Company/Danial Khan)

Kivet had helped organize a similar parade back in April. “I’ve been in touch with hospital administrators who told me recently that things were getting rough. So, I wanted to do something for our medical staff,” he said.

Kivet contacted fire department officials from Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer counties, who readily agreed to participate in the parade. “We had three ladders with Santa and the Grinch, that went up and greeted staff and patients on each floor. We went to the hospital at 6:15, just around shift change, and stayed till 7:15 p.m. So, we managed to catch most of the staff,” said Kivet.

Nine New Jersey counties, including Mercer, are in the red zone when it comes to the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak. Kivet said hospital management told him staff have been working hard the past few weeks due to growing COVID-19 cases.

“When we go to work, we have the best PPE and air masks to protect us from dangers we can see. Medical staff are battling something we can’t see, a virus that’s dangerous and fatal. We just wanted to show our appreciation and lift their morale especially during this time of year,” he said.

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center thanked the fire squads in a Facebook post, saying, "Words cannot express our gratitude for this incredible show of support. You are our heroes."

Here are some of the fire departments who participated in the parade:

• Plainsboro Fire Company
• Plainsboro Rescue Squad
• Plainsboro EMS
• West Windsor Police Department
• Princeton University Pubic Safety
• Kingston Fire Company
• Monmouth Junction Fire Company
• Kendall Park Fire Company
• Hightstown Fire Department
• Griggstown Fire Company
• Middlesex County Hazmat
• Princeton Plasma Physics Lab Fire Department
• Monroe Fire Company
• Lawrenceville Fire Company
• Hightstown Engine Company
• East Windsor Rescue Squad
• Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad

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