Fire & Rescue Department

Volunteer Opportunities

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an official emergency preparedness program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The Florida Division of Emergency Management and the City of Clearwater. Thousands of residents have been trained in the United States and Canada. The CERT program nationwide is supported and assisted by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The CERT course benefits anyone who takes it. Graduates are better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of natural or manmade disasters. Neighborhood groups receiving CERT training become closer-knit and develop plans to help each other when disaster strikes. CERT training provides people with information and experience that is unavailable anywhere else in most communities. Topics such as: introduction to disasters, disaster medical care, fire suppression, search & rescue, and disaster planning have been shown to be highly beneficial to all that attend.

Clearwater Community Emergency Response Teams are designed to be coordinated in accordance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The CERT Coordinator/Designee acts as the official liaison between the CERT Teams and Clearwater Fire & Rescue. In 2001, the Clearwater CERT program was officially started and to date has over one hundred members prepared to prevent, respond, and recover from both natural and man-made disasters.

Upon successful completion of the Community Emergency Response Team course, it is the responsibility of each CERT member to attend the minimum training required annually to remain in the CERT Program.

CERT members must attend a minimum of 3 Trainings:

• 1 Quarterly CERT Training Session by CFR
• 1 Local CERT Drill or Exercise
• 1 of any of the following: CERT Conference or Universal Studios Drill, Emergency
  Management Class or Conference, DHS-FEMA Independent Study Course, Red Cross
  Course or any CFR approved continuing education class

If you are interested in joining the CERT program, please contact Ass't Chief Kent Watts at 562-4334.

Fire Explorer Program - Explorer Post 919

Clearwater Fire & Rescue's Fire Explorer Program supports male and females between the ages of 14-21 years of age and at least in the eighth grade who are interested in learning about the fire service.

Candidate requirements for membership include:

1.1 AGE:

Must be between 14 and 21 years of age and at least in the eighth grade.

1.2 SCHOLASTICS:

Must maintain a minimum grade of “C” or grade point average of 2.0. A copy of the report card must be provided to the post upon issuance.

1.3 CRIMINAL HISTORY:

Must be free of any criminal history or probation and be able to pass a background investigation.

1.4 PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST:

Must be able to pass a physical ability test consisting of sit and reach (touching your toes in a seated position), sit-ups, push-ups, 1.5-mile run/walk, and climbing a raised 24’ ladder.

1.5 MEMBERSHIP REVIEW COMMITTEE:

Must pass an oral review with the Membership Review Committee for presentation to the membership body.

1.6 MEMBERSHIP ACCEPTANCE:

After being presented to the membership body by the Membership Review Committee and selected for membership by the membership body, the candidate becomes a Probationary Fire Explorer.

1.7 REQUIRED FORMS:

Prior to being accepted as a Probationary Fire Explorer, the post must receive his/her:

1. Membership Allocation form and fee
2. Right to Treat form
3. Parental Financial Responsibility form
4. Activity Permission form
5. Member dues
6. Funds for equipment

(Forms 1-4 above must be signed by his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and notarized).

For more information please contact FF Craig Krueger at 562-4334.