by 
The CERTs training course is a combination of classroom and hands-on exercises.
Graduate CERTs and CERTs-in-training. (L-R) Fire Chief Larry Southard, Rachel Opinsky, Collins Cochran, Connie Daugherty, Dale Suter, David Harris, Doug Johnson, Robert Kisling, Barbara Haas and Jim LaPoint.
By Holt Bodinson
Oracle Firewise
Never heard of CERT, the Community’s Emergency Response Team? Many haven’t because these highly skilled men and women go about the job of supporting the Oracle Fire District as volunteers with quiet professionalism and not only just the Oracle community. Several times since its formation in 2007, the Oracle CERTs have been activated to response to critical events in the Tri-Community area, like the Republic Plastics fire in San Manuel, the flooding of an apartment complex in Mammoth and even serious automobile accidents. From 2012-2015, the CERTs have also staffed and supported the Arizona wildland fire refresher and certification drills hosted annually in Oracle for fire departments statewide.
Community Emergency Response Teams were originally initiated under the national umbrella of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In Pinal County, the Pinal County Director of Emergency Management, Chuck Kmet, encourages the formation of and supports local CERT units with whatever resources are at his disposal. It’s a nation-wide program and CERT units not only serve as a pool of trained talent to fire departments but to local law enforcement agencies as well.
Oracle has a CERT force of 18 volunteers with 6 new members currently participating in a basic four week training course which covers a variety of subjects ranging from basic first aid, to logistical support of first responders in the field to conducting property fire prevention assessments for homeowners. Upon graduation, CERTs are on call 24/7 via a text messaging alert system to report to the fire house for any critical event.
In case of a fire, a typical scenario would be for the CERTs to assemble at the fire house, assess the threat, assemble into response teams, secure and operate the fire house and communications systems, activate, if necessary, Oracle’s Emergency Notification System (a reverse 911 system) to warn homeowners about the possibility of an evacuation and work with local law enforcement to insure special needs evacuees are taken care of and accounted for.
Two teams would typically depart for the scene of the emergency with CERT trailers containing water, Gatorade, breathing bottles, shade shelters, first aid supplies, cots, tables, chairs, blankets, clothing, generators and lighting equipment. Other CERTs would be available to bring in additional equipment and supplies as requested and assist at the evacuee centers.
Doug Johnson, CERT Co-Chair, summed up the mission of CERT by saying, “We’re a trained, community support organization for the Oracle Fire Department which can fulfill a variety of roles and in any time of need.” Fire Chief, Larry Southard, went on further to say, “The CERTs are an invaluable, volunteer arm of the Fire Department who time and time again have helped us fulfill our mission to keep the community safe and our first responders fully supported in the field.”
For further information: www.oraclefire.org.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
by by