Engine 51 and Squad 51 Together Again

Reunited once again are Engine 51 and Squad 51 on the front apron of the famed Station 51 in L.A. County.

Anticipation Awaits

Emergency! fans line up at the gates.

What's Under Those Tarps?

Could it be Squad 51 and Engine 51?

History Unveiled

Explorer Scouts and staff remove the protective tarps.

Squad 51 and its “partner”, Engine 51

Reunited on the front apron of Station 51.

Squad 51 and its “partner”, Engine 51

Reunited on the front apron of Station 51.

The Gates are Opened

Fans approach the apparatus and Station “51”

The Gates are Opened

Fans approach the apparatus and Station “51”

The Gates are Opened

Fans approach the apparatus and Station “51”

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

R. Gregory Showalt is affiliated with Cabell County EMS and Fire Dept. in Huntington, WV. Showalt, and credits the show with igniting his interest in EMS and fire services. He was decked out in a vintage “J. Gage Paramedic” uniform and helmet.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Showalt also proudly showed off the Cabell County shoulder patch which he advanced to his agency decades ago with insignias and art work that mimicked the LA County Fire Dept. Patch of the era.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Dan Misgen, a police officer in the 1st Precinct of the Minneapolis (MN) Police Dept., started his career as a paramedic> His grandfather was a fire fighter and he credits the show Emergency! with getting him excited about, and involved in, the field of EMS and law enforcement. He worked overtime during a recent Tornado that struck his area and his wife told him he should use the overtime pay to travel to California and enjoy the Engine 51 re-dedication. He gladly followed her suggestion.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Jim Beck, a first responder for Topeka (Indiana) Fire Department travelled to LA to attend the event. He said that decades after its long run on TV, he feels Emergency! series, even in reruns, still inspires young people to get involved in public safety careers.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Phil Smith from Potawa, Canada (near Ottawa) travelled to Los Angeles to attend the Engine/Squad 51 event. He is a long-time fan of Emergency! and really enjoyed the opportunity to see the famous rigs and station in person.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Kathy Hegemeier, from San Pedro, CA, is an administrative assistance at Torrance Memorial Hospital. She works closely with LA County Medical Director, Frank Pratt, MD., is a lond ng-time supporter of EMS. Also a fan of the show Emergency!, Kathy attended the event along with her son, Cody, age 16 and an aspiring paramedic/fire fighter, and her husband.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Kathy Young from Torrance, CA was always a fan of the show and decided to attend the event to show her support. She graciously took photos of attendees with their own cameras so they had a remembrance of the event. It was a gesture greatly appreciated by the fans.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

John Jenkins was a fire fighter with Redondo Beach and Long Beach Fire Departments. His dad, Cyril “Cy” Jenkins, was a career fire fighter with LA County Fire Department. More specifically, “Cy” was a captain on the Emergency series’ famous Snorkel aerial apparatus at Station 127, the “Home” of the Emergency series.

When asked whether all the fame and notoriety ever got “old” for his dad, with hundreds of show devotees stopping by to visit the famous station each month, John said “No,” noting that his dad and all the LA County crews understood the profound impact the station, their equipment and emergency service operations had on the development of ALS in America and gladly accepted the responsibility.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Nancy McFarland (left) and daughter Kate (right) manned the LA County Fire Museum merchandise area in the apparatus bay of the famous “Station 51” throughout the event. In addition to travelling the nation to raise funds for the museum and assist in public appearances by Randolph Mantooth, the McFarland duo are devoted LACoFD and Emergency! fans.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Don Waldron is a lieutenant/paramedic with the Londonderry Fire Department in New Hampshire. He travelled to LA just for the event and made it a part of his family’s vacation. He said he was glad he could make it to the event and see Engine 51 restored and in position next to Squad 51.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Rob and Ann Diggs travelled to the event from Olney, Maryland. Ann, a long time fan of the show learned about the re-dedication ceremony as she was approaching her 51st birthday and decided to get herself in shape in conjunction with the event recognizing the restoration of the important apparatus. So she worked out on a treadmill every day while watching episodes of Emergency! Ann says, “It was my 51 for 51 program!”

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Young Ryan Fisher (age 6) poses with his dad, a 17-year EMS provider for Sweetwater Medics in Rock Springs, Wyoming. The family used the “51 in Quarters” event as their annual vacation. It was an inspirational trip for both father and son.

Stories Behind Some of the Attendees

Harry Abercrombie, an 88-year-old retired LA County fire fighter decided to attend the event to reminisce about his 25 years in the department. He joined the department on May 17, 1947 and retired on July, 7, 1972, 39 years ago; right around the time his department was moving to enhance its EMS delivery system.

When he joined the department in 1947, long before the days of EMTs, paramedics and structured EMS, he and his crew would often respond on their engine to rural areas to render “first aid” to the sick and injured and it was not uncommon for them render care as best they could and call a local doctor from a list of those available in the area. That doctor would come to the scene and their crew would then leave and the patient would be transported by an ambulance company also on call.

Abercrombie spoke about his most famous patient, having responded to and assisting in the resuscitation of legendary athlete, Jim Thorpe. In March of 1953, Thorpe collapsed while eating dinner with his wife Patricia in their home in Lomita CA and Abercrombie and his crew revived him through use of “artificial respiration.” He briefly regained consciousness and was able to speak to those around him, but lost consciousness shortly afterward. Thorpe died on March 28 at the age of 64.

EMS Leaders in Attendance

Dr. William J Koenig MD (left) practices emergency medicine in Long Beach, California, and also serves as EMS Medical Director of the LA County EMS Authority. He has also served as medical editor for JEMS. He is pictured here with A.J. Heightman.

EMS Leaders in Attendance

Frank Pratt, M.D., FACEP, medical director of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, an emergency physician at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center and a Western States Affiliate of the American Heart Association.

EMS Leaders in Attendance

Cathy Chidester, MSN, MPA, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County EMS Agency and a leading advocate for the advancement of EMS in California and throughout the United States.

EMS Leaders in Attendance

Baxter Larmon, PhD, MICP, Director of the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care and Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine. He is also a Professor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, and is a co-founder of the internationally recognized Prehospital Care Prehospital Care Research Forum.

Baxter is a major supporter of the LA County Fire Museum’s efforts to recognize the “Pioneers of EMS” and preserve EMS equipment and documents.

EMS Leaders in Attendance

Bruce Evans, EMS Chief of the North Las Vegas Fire Department, an active member of the IAFC EMS Section, National Fire Academy Instructor and JEMS Editorial Board member, attended the event with his wife and 5-year-old son Oliver.

Dedication Ceremonies

Maddie Wojeck, 14-year-old daughter of Joe Woyjeck, Vice President of the LA County Fire Museum, opened the “51 Back in Quarters” event with a beautiful acapella rendition of our national anthem. Maddie singing brought broad smiles to the faces of Emergency stars Randolph Mantooth and Mike Stoker.

Dedication Ceremonies

Jim Dear, Mayor of Carson, CA, (where station 127/”Station 51” is located), presented a certificate of appreciation to Paul Schneider, president of the LA County Fire Museum to acknowledge their work in preserving the history of the LA County Fire Department and its role in launching the concept of paramedicine as an essential service and specialty throughout the United States.

Dedication Ceremonies

LA County Fire Chief Daryl Osby welcomed the attendees and told them he was the first fire chief in the history of the LA County Fire Department that was a paramedic, a fact that got him a long, loud round of applause. He said he was proud of the work that the men and women of the LACoFD do on a daily basis and noted that being a paramedic was one of the most memorable and fulfilling positions he has held in the department.

Dedication Ceremonies

Randolph Mantooth, who portrayed paramedic Johnny Gage on Emergency! spoke to the crowd and received perhaps the loudest applause and warmest welcome of the day. He started off his talk by reporting his amazement with the attendance and continuous love the attendees have for the series. "It is the little show that won't die. I am overwhelmed by the fact that you guys would travel as far as you have. I never thought that this show would have the impact it has had on emergency medicine."

Dedication Ceremonies

Mantooth said that both he and co-star Kevin Tighe (Paramedic “Roy Desoto” on the show) were anticipating the show being cancelled because, for many years, it ran in the same time slot as the popular show “All in the Family.”

Dedication Ceremonies

Mantooth, who still lectures internationally on the history of EMS, the show Emergency!, and the Pioneers of EMS in America, spoke of the impact the show had and what it meant to him. He praised Emergency! producer Bob Cinadar for convincing Universal to allow the show to depict realistic scenarios and scenes, including showing blood and allowing people to die. He concluded his remarks by telling the crowd that his involvement with the Emergency series represented “the greatest seven years of my life!”

• See a fast-pace tribute to Randolph Mantooth on YouTube
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Dedication Ceremonies

Mike Stoker, the only LA County fire fighter to play a regular starring role in the series Emergency!, travelled to the event from his home in Florida because he felt it was a very important event in the history of the LA County Fire Department and EMS in general.

Stoker played himself on the show, likeable, professional Engine 51 engineer/fire fighter Mike Stoker. The reason he was able to have such an active role in the series was because the LA County Fire Department “loaned” an engine (Engine 51”) to Universal Studios with the stipulation that it be operated by a trained LA County fire fighter.

Jack Webb like to name characters after key advisors, so Stoker was one of the lucky ones to have his real name emblazoned in EMS history. In fact, Jack Webb wanted to name the young, aggressive member of Squad 51’s paramedic team – “Jim Page,” but Page, who was already walking a political tightrope in the LACoFD for pushing the new paramedic program in front of the American public on network TV, asked Webb not to do so. So the next day, Webb announced the gregarious character as “Johnny Gage.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Jim Page often remarked that Stoker also played a key behind-the-scenes role on the show by offering tips and techniques to the actors and producers about the proper(and safe) way to conduct emergency and fire fighting operations. Stoker retired as a Captain with the LA County Fire Department.

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Dedication Ceremonies

Mantooth and Stoker signed autograph for fans for several hours.

Recognition of James O. (“Jim”) Page’s Contributions

LA County Fire Department Medical Director, Frank Pratt, M.D., praised JEMS founding publisher, Jim Page, who at the time of the show as a LACoFD Battalion Chief, for his dogged determination to have the show portray EMS and the fire service in a professional manner.

Recognition of James O. (“Jim”) Page’s Contributions

Jim Page, LACoFD Battalion Chief, standing in front of Station 127 in 1971

Dedication Ceremony

Museum president Paul Snyder introduced the crowd to Joe Woyjeck (left in photo), Vice President of the LA County Fire Museum and a devoted museum restoration workhorse. Woyjeck was recognized by Snyder as the individual largely responsible for coordination of the “51 in Quarters” event.

Dedication Ceremony

The LA County Fire Museum Board of Directors also presented Dave Stone, a 20-year fire fighter with the Yosemite National Park Fire Dept., the agency that had purchased “Engine 51” from LA County Fire Dept. when it was taken out of service in LA County. Stone served on the engine and watched over it like a guardian angel, saving original equipment such as red lights, monitors and hose appliances over the years as the engine was upgraded. He knew that the engine should someday be returned to LA County for restoration and placement in the LA County Fire Museum. Schneider credited Stone with keeping the lines of communications open throughout the years and making sure it happened when the Engine was taken out of service. The crowd showed its appreciation with a rousing round of applause as his contribution was announced.

Dedication Ceremony

Snyder also recognized the tremendous support offered to the museum association by NBC Universal, one of the major sponsors of the “51 in Quarter” event. Brian Brady, Vice President and Deputy Chief Security officer for NBC Universal in Universal City, CA, was on hand to personally witness the historic re-dedication of Engine 51. Universal Studios, the original producer of the show Emergency!

Dedication Ceremony

In appreciation for his support of the event, the LA County Fire Museum Board of Directors present him with one of the special, steel emblems cut out of a hose bed divider in Engine 51 as it was being restored back to its original configuration.

Other Historic Apparatus on Display

The 1965 Crown pumper used as “Engine 51” in the first two season of Emergency! was also on prominent display in the back parking lot of Station 127 (aka Station 51).

Other Historic Apparatus on Display

Wyatt Marquez, 9-year-old son of Twenty-Nine Palms (CA) Fire Department fire fighter/Captain Robert Marquez, proudly stood in front of the restored 1965 open-cab Crown Engine 51 that was featured in the first two episodes of Emergency!

Other Historic Apparatus on Display

The beautifully restored engine did not take a back seat to the newly restored Ward La France “Engine 51” because most attendees walked past it as well as Jim Page’s restored LA County Recue 11 panel truck (now on display at the LA County Fire Museum – see next photo) and a restored Cadillac ambulance.

Other Historic Apparatus on Display

After his death, the museum proudly placed Jim Page’s beautifully restored replica of his original rescue rig, Rescue 11, into the museum collection. Rescue 11 was on prominent display alongside the original Engine 51.

“Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

Finalists for “Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

“Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

More finalists for “Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

“Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

Youngest finalist for “Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

First Place Winner of the “Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

The grand prize winner, Scott Williams from Onoway, Alberta, won a ride in Squad 51 and a beautiful commemorative helmet. Williams not only bought and restored a Ward LaFrance engine like “Engine 51”, but also built a structure to house it in that was patterned after “Station 51”.

The other 12 finalists were not disappoint though because they were all declared second-place winners and walked away with beautiful certificates to reward them for their devotion to the show.

Finalists for “Biggest Emergency! Fan of all Times”

One of the biggest winners of the day was my trusty sidekick and JEMS Mascot “Bernie” (Bernese mountain dog). Bernie was in dog heaven getting special attention from Randy Mantooth. [There were plenty of female fans that would have paid good money to get a hug like that from Johnny Gage!]