According to paramedics on scene, Page was stricken while swimming during the afternoon of September 4. Page, a fitness enthusiast who in his writing and speaking often urged the fire and emergency services to embrace healthier lifestyles, had no known history of heart disease.
Carlsbad (Calif.) Fire Chief Kevin Crawford is leading a team making plans for a memorial service. Visit www.pwwemslaw.com for information.
Page began his fire service career in Los Angeles County in 1957. He served in numerous locations and roles while working his way through the ranks and completing undergraduate education and law school at night. He has been a licensed California attorney since 1971.
In 1971, Page was assigned by his department to coordinate the countywide implementation of paramedic rescue services. At the same time, he served as technical consultant and writer for the “Emergency!” television series.
In 1973, he left the fire department to accept the new position of Chief of EMS for the State of North Carolina.
Page spent the next ten years based on the east coast. In 1976, he was selected as executive director of the non-profit ACT (Advanced Coronary Treatment) Foundation. In 1979, he founded JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services). While at Jems Communications, he oversaw the launch of FireRescue Magazine.
In 1984, Page returned to the California fire service. In 1989, he retired as Fire Chief for the City of Monterey Park (in Los Angeles County) and returned to a full-time leadership role as Chairman and CEO of Jems Communications.
Over the years, Page published five books, wrote more than 400 magazine articles and editorials, and presented more than 800 public speeches. In 1996 he established and funded an EMS educational foundation at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., because of his intense interest in EMS education.
In 1995, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) honored him by creating the annual “James O. Page Award of Excellence.” In 2000, he was recognized by Fire Chief Magazine as one of the 20 most influential fire chiefs of the 20th Century. In 2002, Jems Communications created the annual “James O. Page/JEMS award,” presented annually to an organization or individual who excels in EMS leadership in the face of extreme political or organizational pressures.
In December 2001, he retired from Jems Communications and was given the title of Publisher Emeritus. Page, a partner in the law firm of Page, Wolfberg and Wirth, with offices in California and Pennsylvania, continued as a prolific writer and speaker in the fire and EMS fields. Page was also a collector of vintage fire and rescue vehicles, including his prized Rescue 11.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum, James O. Page Memorial fund, P.O. Box 3325, Alhambra, CA 91803.
