Fire Department
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
Classes are held at the Bentonville Fire Department - Central Station, (800 SW "A"
St.). Anyone interested needs to fill out an application (see
application download below) and either drop it off at the Central Fire Station,
or you can e-mail it directly to the training officer,
B.J. Hyde.
All applications must be received two
weeks prior to the class start date.
Current Schedule:
| Session |
2010 Class Dates: |
Class Times: |
| 1 |
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and
May 6 & 13 |
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
| 2 |
Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7 & 14 |
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
The Bentonville Fire Department offers Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. The course is designed to
teach individuals how to take care of themselves and others in case of natural or manmade disasters that may overwhelm
local emergency resources.
It covers administering first aid to the injured, light search and rescue, preparing for
disasters, basic fire fighting, disaster psychology, and team organization. The course is coordinated and taught by
members of the Bentonville Fire Department who have training in CERT concepts from the National Fire Academy in
Emmitsburg, Maryland.
CERT is a program that had its beginnings in California due to the earthquake threat in that area. It has grown
across the United States, and after the September 11, 2001 tragedy. President Bush called for the initiation of
community programs to prepare our citizens for natural and manmade disasters. To encourage these activities, he
created the Citizen's Corps, under which the CERT program is placed.
The Bentonville Fire Department is dedicated to assisting our citizens and those who work in our community to
develop the knowledge and skills to better help themselves if ever our emergency resources are overwhelmed in
their time of need.
The course is being offered at no charge to the public at this time. The fire department is seeking participants
from business and industry, in Bentonville, as well as schools, local government, churches, the medical community,
and neighborhoods. Each class will be limited to 25 students. Classes will be held one day a week for four hours
each day for six to seven weeks.
Graduates receive a CERT helmet, vest, and eye protection at the graduation
ceremony, and are asked to help carry the program to the community by organizing a team or teams in their particular
areas of concern. It is planned that two courses a year be offered at the fire department.
Applications for the first CERT class are available at the Bentonville Central
Fire Station/Administrative Office at 800
SW "A" Street. Or one may call 271-3151 to have an application mailed or Faxed. We have also made a downloadable
application in this web site.
We encourage members of our community to take advantage of this opportunity by signing up and joining us for a fun
learning experience.
Dan White
Bentonville Fire Chief
| 
