CERT: Your Community Emergency Response Team

If you are interested in becoming a CERT volunteer, attend one of the monthly trainings as an opportunity to meet some of our team members. Regular CERT training is open to the public, and features different monthly training topics.

Training occurs on the second Wednesday of the month, from 6 pm to 8 pm at Ashland Fire & Rescue Station 2, located at 1860 Ashland Street. Parking is best found on Sherman Street. 

If you would like to become a CERT volunteer, attend one of our annual basic training courses.

The volunteer Wildfire Risk Assessor (WRA) performs wildfire risk assessments within Ashland City Limits and surrounding areas to advise property owners and legal residents on wildfire risks associated with their property. The goal of the WRA is to develop a positive relationship with each property owner or legal occupant to educate, empower, guide, and support actions to improve their fire resiliency.

WRAP volunteers strive to offer the following to Ashland residents:

• Provide subject matter expertise in the home ignition zone and home hardening principles, hazard fuels reduction, fire-resistant landscaping, basic wildfire behavior principles, and some relevant codes and ordinances.
• Follow established protocols and will seek out assistance from AF&R staff for complex or unusual situations.
• Practice situational awareness and follows established safe work practices.
• Solicit relative information and listens to property owners’/ legal occupants’ concerns before advising them on risks.
• Develops effective relationships with property owners or legal occupants and may serve as their point of contact after the assessment report is delivered.
• Advises and strives to motivate property owners and legal residents using appropriate communication techniques and interpersonal skills.
• Provides information in a manner that balances a resident's individual judgment with realistic opportunities to address barriers to action.
• Advocates for risk reduction in a manner that addresses specific vulnerabilities.
• Documents findings using customized software that is compiled in a report to the resident.
• May perform follow-up inspections confirming completion of work and condition status.
• Constructively contributes to Ashland CERT, a team-run volunteer program within Ashland Fire & Rescue.

Sign up for a Wildfire Risk Assessment for your home or business here!

The Rapid Activation Team (RAT) is currently in its first iteration of the program. The intent of the RAT team is to provide volunteers with more advanced training to assist our responders on higher frequency calls.

RAT members may be requested to perform firefighter rehab for extended fires, traffic control for incidents that expand into the roadway, access control to prevent entry into hazardous areas, and other incidents requiring extra assistance.