Woodbridge Ambulance And Rescue Squad Stops Operating, Citing Financial Troubles

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The Woodbridge Township Ambulance & Rescue Squad (WTARS) will stop operating this week, saying financial troubles forced the squad to close, at least temporarily.

It appears donations to the squad have dramatically decreased. The rescue squad provided first aid services to Woodbridge Township for decades. WTARS has a very large facility where they park their ambulances on Queen Road in Iselin. They also rent that hall out for banquets.

"The squad is in the process of reorganizing financial issues as a result of changes in community financial support," said WTARS President Edward Barrett in an email to all members of the squad.

The ambulance and EMS service they provided to Woodbridge will end immediately after midnight Wednesday, said Barrett in the email. All shifts after 6 p.m. Wednesday have been canceled.

Barrett did not immediately return a call from Patch to further explain.

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac confirmed the longtime ambulance squad is shutting down. McCormac said it was a "difficult and complicated decision."

The mayor also said there are four other ambulance and rescue squads that will continue to serve Woodbridge residents: The Emergency Medical First Aid Squad from Woodbridge Police, plus Avenel/Colonia first aid squad, Colonia first aid squad and Port Reading first aid squad.

In the email to squad members, Barrett said WTARS is "reorganizing" and "our plan is to restart service as soon as possible."

However, the mayor said WTARS is working with Woodbridge Twp. to "develop a well-thought-out closure plan."

Here is the entire statement McCormac released Wednesday morning:

"Mayor John E. McCormac announced that the Woodbridge Township Ambulance & Rescue Squad (WTARS) reported to the Township that they would cease ambulance service operation effective August 7, 2025.

While the Township recognizes that the determination by WTARS to close their doors was a difficult and complicated decision, we can reassure residents, visitors and travelers that the Woodbridge Township Police Department Emergency Medical First Aid Squad, in conjunction with the three established Township EMS providers – Avenel/Colonia FAS, Colonia FAS and Port Reading FAS – have sufficient staff and equipment in place and that there will be no interruption in the delivery of efficient and professional emergency medical services 24/7.

“Public safety is our number one priority as elected officials and that includes First Aid along with police and fire services. The people of Woodbridge Township served by WTARS will not miss a beat in having qualified, trained and experienced professionals on duty around-the-clock to make sure they are safe,” Mayor McCormac said.

We would like to recognize the leadership of WTARS President Edward Barrett whose guidance and experience has been the measure of success and an outline for emergency medical service for more than 60 years.

Additionally, it is important to note that Director Joseph Nisky, Woodbridge Township Police Department & Office of Emergency Management and Dennis Petrick, EMS Manager, maintained close contact with the leadership of WTARS over the past months in an effort to assist WTARS develop a well-thought-out closure plan and to ensure that Township EMS services continue without interruption to meet the emergency medical service needs of each and every Woodbridge Township community."