Sequim CERT

08/19/2026

Search and rescue efforts after a disaster is one of Sequim CERT's main missions. Here is Team 16 during a recent drill to practice technique. Well done!

08/07/2026

Good morning all! With the number of fires burning across the Pacific Northwest, fire restrictions are coming fast and furious. Please read the latest update from Clallam County Parks.

Good morning, Clallam County park visitors! Please read this important update from the fire marshal regarding a new total fire ban in all county campgrounds and day use areas.

August 7, 2026
Due to low humidity and extreme heat warnings forecast for the near future, the Clallam County Burn Ban is being modified to include all campgrounds within unincorporated Clallam County
(County controlled campgrounds are included in the burn ban). This modification prohibits all outdoor burning. Outdoor burning includes campfires, bonfires, briquette BBQ’s, residential yard
debris clean-up, trash disposal, land clearing, w**d abatement and agricultural burning activity.

Propane/gas and pellet appliances are permitted provided the use is over a non-flammable surface and at least 5 feet from flammable vegetation.

NO fires or charcoal grill usage is allowed in any Clallam County campground or day use area. Be fire smart and help keep our parks and communities safe!

07/23/2026

Summer is a great time for kids to help their family make a disaster plan. Ready.gov has a ton of information at their Ready Kids website, with games, resources, tips, and lots of cool age-appropriate ways to help out in the event of a disaster. Check it out! https://www.ready.gov/kids

07/21/2026

CERT Tip Tuesday!

Do you own (and know how to use) a fire extinguisher? It's so important to have the proper extinguisher for the location it will be used.

Class A: Use for ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, cloth, trash, and plastics.
Class B: For flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, petroleum greases, oil-based paints, and solvents.
Class C: For energized electrical equipment.
Class D: For combustible and flammable metals such as magnesium, titanium, and lithium.
Class K: For cooking appliances that involve combustible vegetable or animal oils and fats. Designed specifically for commercial kitchens.

The best extinguisher for overall use at home, in a car or RV, or garage, is a multi-purpose ABC extinguisher. And remember P.A.S.S.: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep that fire out!

07/19/2026

There is a lot of paperwork required to keep CERT teams operating, but why?

The Community Emergency Response Team program functions under the Incident Command System (ICS), which is designed to ensure clear accountability, safety, and coordination among all systems during a disaster event.

Emergencies, especially those affecting an entire community, are full of natural and man-made chaos. The paper reporting systems help prevent miscommunication, show who is working when and where, and, most important, cover disaster responders under liability protections and workers' compensation. Detailed logs prove that CERT personnel were officially deployed, following protocol, and operating under authorized instructions.

07/16/2026

CERT Scenario:
Your community has experienced a 7.0 earthquake, and your squad has mobilized. As you check on homes in your area, you come across an older house that appears to have suffered some damage. A presumed resident is sitting on the ground outside the home, holding their head in their hands. There is blood on the ground and on their hands.

What are your first steps? Discuss.

(Pic credit: Pexels)

07/16/2026

Be alert, community! This Red Flag warning means conditions are ripe for lightning strikes and subsequent fires.

There’s concern that lightning may spark wildfires. Please help do your part by reducing sparks and calling 911 if you see fires start. A red flag warning is in place for Thursday’s weather pattern for portions of the Olympic Mountains, the North Cascades and the Central Cascades along with the Columbia Basin and portions of Benton, Franklin, Grant, Klickitat, Skamania, Walla Walla, Yakima, Adams, Douglas, Chelan, Kittitas and portions of Skamania, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Mason, Jefferson and Clallam counties. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Check your local forecast for particulars at weather.gov.
You can help:
* Prepare for a wildfire by maintaining your lawn and removing combustible debris from around your home.
* Clear area near your home of leaves, dead vegetation & other combustible debris to reduce sources of fuel.
* Be prepared to evacuate if a wildfire occurs by knowing your family’s evacuation plan. Tip: Plan several escape routes away from your home by car and by foot.
* When an evacuation notice is issued for a wildfire, take prompt action to maximize survival chances.
* Talk to your neighbors about Wildfire Safety. Plan how the neighborhood could work together before and after a wildfire.
* Learn more about our state’s evacuation levels: https://mil.wa.gov/wildfire

07/14/2026

CERT teams are trained in "light search and rescue", which means they are practiced in the procedures and techniques to safely locate trapped victims and extricate them from damaged structures using basic, portable hand tools, rather than heavy equipment.

Safety is a key word for CERT, and knowing where everyone is at a given time is crucial, so teams will rope up if they need to enter a structure. A 100 feet of mainline rope start the team out, but more can be added, as shown in this video.

Want to learn the skills of light search and rescue? CERT academies resume in September, so call today and reserve your spot for these FREE classes (360) 504-2531. Join us!

07/07/2026

CERT Tip Tuesday: Ever been stuck in a vehicle that's broken down? Not only is it inconvenient, it can be unsafe! The CERT website has links to resources to make sure your car (and you) are prepared for a breakdown or situation where a vehicle becomes a shelter. https://www.ready.gov/car
(Image by SafeIntheSeat)

07/06/2026

What do you get when you join CERT? Gear! Each graduate of the CERT academies receives a backpack, safety vest, hard hat, safety goggles, and other items to jump start the team member's emergency go bag.
CERT academy classes resume in September, so sign up today and secure your spot. Courses are free and open to anyone age 18 or older. Call 360.504.2531 and join more than 500 volunteers in the greater Sequim area doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people!