Among the first mutual aid ambulances to arrive, the Summit crews were assigned to treat 2 of the more seriously injured burn patients and transported 1 to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and the other to University Hospital in Newark. When dealing with large numbers of patients, it is best to avoid overloading any one hospital. Doing so would result in adversely affect patient care. Summit's 2^nd crew worked along side paramedics from Overlook Hospital. After turning over patient care to hospital staff, both Summit ambulance crews returned to the scene and transported additional patients to Beth Israel Hospital in Newark and East Orange General Hospital. The Summit ambulance crews were led by Crew Chiefs Beverly Dorl and John Staunton; both Seton Hall alumni.

Overlook Hospital in Summit received several students suffering from smoke inhalation. Overlook also sent a Paramedic unit as well as it's "FieldCom" mobile communications trailer to the scene. Ambulances from at least 10 surrounding towns also responded. All but 2 were staffed by volunteers. Neighboring Millburn-Short Hills First Aid Squad and Springfield First Aid Squad were among those who helped.

No one community is equipped to deal with an emergency of this magnitude. So, most agencies participate in "mutual aid" programs whereby assistance can be quickly summoned from surrounding communities. "We always try to assist our neighbors whenever we're able", said First Aid Captain Kari Phair. "We never know when we may need the favor returned."