Taking over Paterson EMS

When I got on the job I was unders the understanding that my job was to fight fires and respond to any fire related calls, runs, situations. How did it go from that to getting rid of most EMS civillians and replacing them with fire fighters? I don't know how it happened, but it did. The worse part of it is that our Union (Local 2) did nothing about it but sit on their ass and let it happen. Paterson is not mandated by the state of New Jersey to their fire fighters EMTs. If anyone out there has a thought about this or knows something that I don't, please let me know. 2 b cont..