Emergency Management

Training

CERT - Community Emergency Response Team

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Learn how to prepare yourself, your family, and your neighborhood for a disaster. CERT Basic Training is a FREE 20-hour hands-on training program taught by ﬁrst responder personnel and subject matter experts. The course is an all-hazards approach to help you increase your personal readiness and confidence if an emergency or disaster strikes.

Class Dates:

Friday, September 19, 2025, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 20, 2025, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 21, 2025, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Registration will open on July 21st, 2025. For more information or questions, please contact ReadyRC@cityofrc.us.

Advanced CERT Team

After completing CERT Basic Training, take your preparedness to the next level by joining the Rancho Cucamonga Advanced CERT Team! The Advanced CERT Team is a volunteer program that helps build disaster resiliency in our community. The Team is comprised of an organized group of trained community members, who are available and willing to respond during emergencies and catastrophic disasters in the event first responders are unavailable. Advanced CERT Team members also assist with ReadyRC outreach efforts to help prepare and teach the community about how they to can be more prepared and ready for a large emergency or disaster.

Qualifications To Join the Advanced CERT Team

Must show completion of a 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Class
Must live or work in Rancho Cucamonga
Must complete the following National Incident Management System (NIMS) training (FREE online courses):
- IS-100 Introduction on Incident Command System (ICS)
- IS-200 ICS for Single Resources
- IS-505 Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster
- IS-700 An Introduction National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- IS-800 An Introduction National Response Framework
Must show completion of CPR/AED/First Aid Certificate (8 hr. Red Cross or American Heart Association)
Must pass a Department of Justice (DOJ) Live scan background check
Must take the Disaster Service Worker Loyalty Oath

Commitment Expected

Attend meetings led by RCFD Emergency Management Division, various trainings, exercises, and outreach events throughout the year attend. Advanced CERT members are required to complete at least 40-volunteer hours a year.

Meeting and Training Times

Advanced CERT members receive additional training opportunities throughout the year, including monthly training meetings and annual skills refresher courses and exercises.

ReadyRC meetings and trainings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Meeting dates and times may change, please call or email to learn more.)
Additional training is conducted throughout the year and bi-annual exercises are scheduled to help sharpen CERT skills.

Age Requirement

Age 18 years old or older to join the team, but you can be at least 16 years old to take CERT Basic Training.

Application

Apply by completing a Fire District Volunteer Application.

Complete Application

For more information on Advanced CERT Team:

Please contact us by phone at 1-909-774-3020 or by email at ReadyRC@CityofRC.us.

BERT - Business Emergency Resiliency Training

ACS - Auxiliary Communications Service

Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS)

Amateur Radio License Course and Testing

FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Licensing Exams are offered six times a year for all three amateur radio license levels (Technician, General, and Extra). The exam has a cost that is set by the FCC for the 10-year license that is due on the day of the FCC Licensing exam. Please refer to the FCC licensing exam registration details for more information on the cost.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our Public Safety newsletter to be updated when classes resume.

Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) Team

Duties

When requested by the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District, ACS Team members will assist with ReadyRC outreach efforts and help respond to large emergencies and catastrophic disasters by assisting with and providing communication services. These services may include operating portable, mobile and/or base station Amateur and Public Safety radios. ACS provide amateur emergency communication services for both the City of Rancho Cucamonga and the City of Upland.

The ACS Team also coordinates and teaches Amateur Radio licensing courses for both the Technician and General licenses, as well as, administers FCC Licensing exams for the Technician, General, and Extra licenses.

Qualifications To Join the ACS Team

Must have an Amateur Radio Technician License or Greater
Must show completion of a 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Class
Must complete the following National Incident Management System (NIMS) training (FREE online courses):
- IS-100 Introduction on Incident Command System (ICS)
- IS-200 ICS for Single Resources
- IS-505 Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster
- IS-700 An Introduction National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- IS-800 An Introduction National Response Framework
Must show completion of CPR/AED/First Aid Certificate (8 hr. Red Cross or American Heart Association)
Must pass a Department of Justice (DOJ) Live scan background check
Must take the Disaster Service Worker Loyalty Oath
Must live or work in the City of Rancho Cucamonga or City of Upland

Commitment Expected

Attend meetings led by RCFD Emergency Management Division, ACS Team meetings, and various trainings, exercises, and outreach events throughout the year attend. Complete at least 40-volunteer hours a year.

Meeting and Training Times

ReadyRC Volunteer Meetings led by the RCFD Emergency Management Division are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Meeting dates and times may change, please call or email to learn more.)
A weekly radio net is held on Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Additional training is conducted quarterly on the 5th Tuesday of the month and scheduled Saturday mornings. There is approximately one planned drill or event per quarter to help sharpen Ham radio skills. (Meeting dates and times may change, please call or email to learn more.)

Age Requirement

Age 18 years old or older to join the team, but you can be any age to take the Amateur License Exam.

Application

Apply by completing a Fire District Volunteer Application.

ACS APPLICATION

ACS Event Calendar

For up-to-date class and exam dates, please check the ACS Events Calendar, www.tricityacs.net, and the Fire District's calendar.

For More Information

Please contact us by phone at 1-909-774-3020 or by email at ReadyRC@CityofRC.us

LISTOS - Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Readiness Training

Listos is a basic emergency and disaster readiness public education program for Spanish-speaking populations with a grass-roots approach. The Listos program is comprised of a series of discussions and activities.

History of LISTOS:

Listos was a direct result of an Aware & Prepare Initiative roundtable discussion between community leaders and community-based organizations that work with Non-English Speaking populations. The topic of the discussion was "NonEnglish Speaking Populations in Emergency and Disaster Situations. As a follow-up to this roundtable, and since the specific area of Spanish speakers and disaster preparedness was scarcely being addressed, Aware & Prepare initiated the development of a basic community readiness pilot program for Spanish-speaking populations.

The first Rancho Cucamonga Listos class was held in person on May 7th, 2022, with 14 community members!

LISTOS Class Model:

Listos was modeled after various programs including a Spanish-language community readiness class that was hosted in Carpinteria, the Promotores program, the Community Emergency Response Team curriculum, and a grass-roots approach to reaching populations through trusted networks. The goal of this program is to provide very basic resources to Latino populations for emergency readiness in an environment in which they feel comfortable within.

The curriculum used is based on the Spanish-language Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) curriculum, which is an 8-week program. Listos extracts the concepts of CERT that are most critical for emergency situations and condenses them into an 8-hour class.

The topics covered in a LISTOS Class:

Identifying Vulnerabilities
Fire Extinguisher Use
Important Document Back-Up
Disaster Supply Kits
Utilities Shut-Off
Creating Reunification and Communication Plans
Triage
Disaster Medicine
Team Organization
Disaster Psychology

Upcoming LISTOS classes:

To be determined. For questions and class availability please call 1-909-774-3020, or email ReadyRC@cityofrc.us for updates.

ReadyRC Academy

Hands-Only CPR

Learn the American Heart Association technique of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The City of Rancho Cucamonga, in partnership with the Fire District, offers a CPR class monthly. Class is held on the first Wednesday of the month from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the All-Risk Training Center. Class includes adult CPR and choking. Certification is valid for two years.

Join us for our Heartsaver® CPR AED Training where you’ll learn critical skills to save lives in emergency situations. This comprehensive training program equips participants with the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) effectively. Based on the latest American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, this course emphasizes safe and timely responses in critical moments.

Course Details:

When: First Wednesday of the month

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Cost: $60 per person

Disclaimer: Class will be canceled if a minimum of 3 students is not reached.

Who Should Take This Course?
The Heartsaver CPR AED course is perfect for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card to meet job requirements, regulatory needs, or personal development goals.

What You Will Learn:

Understand the importance of high-quality CPR in improving survival rates.
Explain the Chain of Survival concepts.
Identify when someone requires CPR.
Perform high-quality CPR on adults.
Administer effective breaths using mouth-to-mouth or a mask across all age groups.
Utilize an AED on adults.
Recognize and respond to choking emergencies for adults.

Optional Modules:

Child and infant CPR and AED use are available as optional modules for those looking to enhance their skills further.

*Upon completion of all course requirements, participants receive a Heartsaver® CPR AED Course Completion Card which is valid for two years.

Empower yourself with life-saving skills and the confidence to act in emergencies. Sign up for the Heartsaver CPR AED Training today!

There is a $60 fee for the course, which includes the American Heart Association workbook. Registration is not accepted at classes.

Register Here

Watch a Video on Hands-Only CPR

Fire Extinguishers

Videos

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HOW TO: Fill a Sandbag

Learn how to fill a sandbag to protect your home, business, or school from flooding during heavy rain.

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HOW TO: Perform Hands Only CPR

Learn Hands Only CPR in one minute and you could help save a life! After you watch this video, download the Pulse Point app on your mobile device to be notified when someone near you is in need of CPR in a public place.

WATCH VIDEO

Image of duffel bag packed with essential items for an emergency kit

HOW TO: Pack an Emergency Kit

Do you know what to put in your emergency kit? Check out this video to find out what the essential items are.

WATCH VIDEO

HOW TO: Shut off Electrical Panel

Learn how to shut off your electrical panel at your home or business.

WATCH VIDEO

Photo of person shutting off natural gas meter

HOW TO: Shut off Your Natural Gas Meter

Learn how to shut off your natural gas meter at your home or business.

WATCH VIDEO

Photo of dog bowl with food and text that asks if your pets are ReadyRC

Pet Emergency Kit Essentials

Don't forget about your furry family members when preparing for an emergency. Check out this video for a list of things your pet may need in their emergency kit.

WATCH VIDEO

Are you #ReadyRC?

Learn how you and your loved ones can be ReadyRC during a natural or man-made disaster in this quick video.

WATCH VIDEO

Events & Classes

6Aug

Image of person performing cpr on a manikin

Aug 6, 2025 | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Heartsaver® CPR AED Class — Aug 6, 2025

See Event

See City Calendar

Resources

Ready RC Guide

Provides essential tips on what to do before, during and after the disaster. This comprehensive booklet includes emergency kit checklists, evacuation route maps, shelter information and more. Use it to prepare your family to be ReadyRC, then place it in your emergency kit so the information can easily be referenced in a disaster.

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

Preparedness Training

Training

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Class Dates:

Advanced CERT Team

Business Emergency Resiliency Training (BERT)

Sign up for the BERT 2025 series!

Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS)

Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) Team

Videos

HOW TO: Fill a Sandbag

HOW TO: Perform Hands Only CPR

HOW TO: Pack an Emergency Kit

HOW TO: Shut off Electrical Panel

HOW TO: Shut off Your Natural Gas Meter

Pet Emergency Kit Essentials

Are you #ReadyRC?

Events & Classes

Heartsaver® CPR AED Class — Aug 6, 2025

Resources

Ready RC Guide

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

Map of Fire Stations

Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety Information