A fan of CERT training

Kudos to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the CERT class completed in LCF Saturday, and to the city of La Cañada Flintridge for facilitating this training.

Several of those who helped train us did so on their own time. This training will greatly benefit individuals, families, neighborhoods and our whole community in those times when emergency services are overwhelmed.

The day after we completed our CERT disaster drill in LA County Camp 2, our family experienced its own disaster drill, being evacuated from our home because of the impending collapse of a deodar tree next door. Again, thanks go to LA County Fire for identifying the hazard and removing us from harm’s way, and to the city of LCF for promptly mitigating the hazard posed by this city tree.

What felled this great deodar? The proximate cause was root rot brought on by improper treatment of the roots. My guess is that roots were improperly cut during trenching for a sewer connection. Pundits warned of the impact sewers would have on LCF trees. In this case the impact was avoidable.

Another CERT class will be offered at CV Park starting on June 11. Why not take advantage of this great opportunity? Google “LACFD CERT Crescenta Valley Park” to register.

James Stoker
La Cañada Flintridge