CERT-qualified residents invited to refresh their skills

The Newport Beach Fire Department is giving any local Community Emergency Response Team alumni a refresher course with a “Drill the Skills” class today.

Starting at 9 a.m., more than 100 CERT-certified Newport Beach residents are expected to extinguish small fires, perform CPR and coordinate response efforts to any kind of emergency at the Santa Ana Heights Fire Station.

All past and graduating CERT members are invited to put their training to the test. Firefighters and lifeguards will be there to assist in each of the stations, which includes a search and rescue task.

Winter CERT students that completed all of their classes will graduate after the drills, which finish at noon, fire officials said.

The classes are biweekly and will not begin again until fall, said department spokeswoman Jennifer Shulz. For more information about CERT call (949) 644-3112.

— Joseph Serna