We tried to capture all the amazing events and incidents in which our LAFD CERT members were involved. If it was already covered in a previous post, we did not add it here. We thank all of you that gave up so much of your valuable time to help the citizens of Los Angles and assist the men and women of the LAFD! We had wildfires, gas leaks, traffic accidents, wires-down, Call-Out Team Trainings, and Skills Refreshers.The CERT Coordinators were on hand to assist the firefighter instructors when needed for their CERT classes as well as be on hand for the graduations. We thank these wonderful Coordinators for their incredibly selfless dedication, and a huge round of applause for our LAFD CERT Commander, Captain Cody Weireter. Also many thanks for the great leadership of Captain John Ignatczyk, Disaster Preparedness Officer and the special appearances from Captain Christopher Winn, previous LAFD CERT Commander.
We also have to say a fond farewell and extend a huge THANK YOU to Firefighter Mitch McKnight on his retirement. Firefighter McKnight started his career as a firefighter and EMT with the LAFD 31 years ago, and has served as a superb CERT instructor with the LAFD CERT Unit for the last 20 years. You will be missed!
The main reason the LAFD CERT Unit exists is to prepare and train the Los Angeles Community to be prepared for emergencies and disasters. Here are a few stats from the CERT Unit:
LAFD CERT Classes for 2019
Total Number Public CERT Training Requests: 174
Total Number CERT Courses Delivered: 57
Total Number Individuals Trained in CERT: 1,774
Still not CERT Trained? Please visit our constantly updated CERT class page. Take the training! Even if you do not go through the extra training for our Call-Out Team program, you will be so much better prepared to assist your family and neighbors during an emergency. LAFD CERT Training
Hope you viewed the wonderful video created by LAFD CERT Call-out member (& Emmy winner!) John Gilbert on the LAFD CERT Call-Out Team. You didn’t? Then have a look!
LAFD CERT Call-Out Team Overview – Video by John Gilbert, a.c.e.
So, once again, here’s to a lot of training, and hoping to not have to use any of it!
A Safe and a Happy New Year to Everyone!
Thanks to all of our photographers including John Gilbert (visit his Vimeo site for great CERT videos such as you see on this website), Jeff Hole, & Bernard Guyman (visit his site, http://www.kg6fbm.com/ for CERT & LAFD photos.) If we used one of your photos and you want a photo credit, let us know at the website email address & we’ll add you with our thanks. Sorry we couldn’t capture all the names!
