It's a special milestone in the City of Hartford, with the EMS celebrating their 50th Anniversary.

On January 10, 1976 the Hartford Emergency Squad started as a Basic EMT service to the city, responding to 202 EMS calls throughout their first year. Throughout the next 50 years, the Hartford Emergency Squad has merged with the Fire Department and progressed into Advanced EMT and now Paramedic level service. 

The department saw a major rise in service, with EMTs handling around 1,300 calls annually by 2016. 

Retired Hartford Fire and Rescue Chief Paul Stephans spearheaded an important transition in the department's emergency medical services. It involved an upgrade to the paramedic - level. 

"This is an improvement, providing the highest level of service to our community," Stephans said on WTKM at the time of the transition. "I'm proud of our department and all of the great people we have serving the community. This will make a difference and save lives."      

Stephans focused on improving patient outcomes by advancing from basic, to intermediate and eventually to paramedic-level service. 

The former Hartford fire chief and the department transitioned to provide advanced paramedic-level care, in which gave responders a chance to offer more advanced, life-saving skills like intravenous injections.