CERT - Community Emergency Response Team
When an emergency occurs, it’s absolutely critical to be as prepared as possible. Over the past decade, Ventura County residents have experienced wildfires, floods, mudslides, earthquakes, and more. To aid in proper preparation for these events, Ventura County Fire Department has coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist residents with disaster preparedness education and training.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program teaches community members about the potential disasters that could affect them at any time—and how to safely, responsibly, and efficiently respond to them. CERT educates volunteers in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, team organization, hazard awareness, and disaster medical operations.
The Hybrid CERT program consists of online courses (9 units) that can be attended and completed online, at your own pace. Once these online courses are completed, attendance at a hands-on practical portion with a local CERT coordinator leads to full CERT credentialing. Each graduate receives a manual, a certificate of completion, and a CERT disaster startup pack (helmet, gloves, vest, and goggles).
Training Information
The Ventura County Fire Department partners with Ventura County Cities and other organizations to plan CERT training. For a list of scheduled classes click on the calendar button or contact your local Coordinator listed below.
Ventura County Coordinators
CERT program efforts are coordinated through local emergency services personnel. Team coordinators are in charge of recruitment, new/recurring training, activity/event scheduling as well as mobilization and staging decisions.
Ventura County Fire Department CERT Coordinator
Steve Lazenby
Email: CERT@ventura.org
Cell: (805) 794-6094
Community Services
CERT Coordinators
Find your CERT city program and sign up to start your CERT training!
| Bell Canyon | Garrett Clancy | (310) 990-7742 | |
| Camarillo | Heidi Zahrt | 601 Carmen Dr., Camarillo, CA 93010 | (805) 383-5688 |
| Fillmore | Mike Salazar | (805) 208-5338 | |
| Moorpark | Mackenzie Douglass | 799 Moorpark Ave., Moorpark, CA 93021 | (805) 517-6241 |
| Oak Park | Diane Starzak | 5545 Liverpool Ct., Oak Park, CA 91377 | (818) 889-2361 |
| Oak Park High School | Brenda Pasqua | (818) 889-2361 | |
| Ojai | Brian Brennan | 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ojai CA, 93009 | (805) 654-2703 |
| Oxnard | Scott Brewer | 260 W. Second St., Oxnard, CA 93030 | (805) 385-7717 |
| Piru | Mike Lopez | P.O. Box 535Â Piru, CAÂ 93040 | (805) 320-8559 |
| Port Hueneme | Robert Albertson | 250 N. Ventura Road Port Hueneme, CA 93041 | (805) 986-6644 |
| Santa Paula | Steve Lazenby | P.O. Box 569, Santa Paula, CA 93060 | (805) 794-6094 |
| Santa Rosa Valley | Rosemary Allison | 11521 Sumac Lane, Santa Rosa CA 93012 | (805) 491-2100 |
| Simi High School | Jessie Ellis | ||
| Simi Valley | Corinna Bridges | 3901 Alamo St., Simi Valley CA 93063 | (805) 583-6263 |
| Thousand Oaks | Grahame Watts | 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 | (805) 449-2453 |
| Ventura City | Kris Edwards | 1425 Dowell Dr., Ventura CA 93001 | (805) 658-4717 |
Register for a CERT Class
Please sign up for a CERT course by clicking on the City you live in below.
CERT Forms
Get started by completing these CERT forms.
- Liability Release
- CERT liability release form
- Photo Model release
- VCFD Photo model release
- CERT travel map
- Map for CERT class
- CERT course evaluation
- CERT course evaluation form
- Class make-up form
- CERT class make up form
- RTC map
- VCFD Regional Training Center map
