The Tacoma Fire Department invites citizens who live or work within the city limits of Tacoma to attend our Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) classes. Aimed at preparing groups of citizens in our community to prepare for and respond to disasters, the classes will follow a model developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and offered in cities across the United States. The idea behind this model is to teach people in neighborhoods how to help each other in the first few minutes or hours following a disaster before emergency responders are able to get to them to render professional help. In the classes, students will gain hands-on skills such as how to put out small fires, render first aid in a disaster situation, and perform light search and rescue.
Typically, a series of six classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for three weeks, from 6:30 PM - 9 PM, and will culminate in a practical exercise to be held on a Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Instructors will be uniformed Firefighters with special experience in a particular area or subject matter experts from other areas. You will have no out-of-pocket cost for these classes.
We will accept up to 30 students per series of classes. Graduation requires your attendance at all sessions listed below. To find out when the next CERT class is scheduled and enroll in the series of classes, complete the online registration form, or call Josh Shelton with the Tacoma Fire Department, at (253) 591-5955.
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Summer 2019 Schedule - Dates TBD
The location of the Summer 2019 sessions will be held at the Tacoma Fire Department Training Center at 2124 Marshall Avenue in Tacoma.
Introduction to Tacoma's CERT Program |
Utility Safety
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Light Search & Rescue
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Fire Safety
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Exercise |
What to Expect From These Classes
We will do our best to present to you a series of classes, taught by qualified professionals that will offer Tacoma citizens some real, hands-on skills they can apply in their homes and neighborhoods, that will help them prepare for and respond to disasters and large-scale emergencies. We will do this in a comfortable learning environment, with
personal safety of primary importance.
What We Expect From You
The Tacoma Fire Department hopes to fill this series of classes with individuals who are able to commit the time to attend all classes and the exercise, who have a high interest in bettering their neighborhoods, and who have the potential to become leaders/organizers and share what they learn within their area of the city.
Additional Information