Student Residents & CERT
South Lane County Fire & Rescue offers hands-on, real-world emergency training through its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs—for both adults and teens. These programs prepare community members to respond effectively in disasters, provide critical support before first responders arrive, and help strengthen overall community resilience.
Student Resident Program
South Lane County Fire & Rescue offers positions to motivated individuals who have a desire to persue a career within the Fire & EMS industry.
Student Residents are provided with lodging and a monthly scholarship, as well as tuition scholarship for up to 12 credits toward their Emergency Medicine or Fire Science degrees.
Student Residents work directly with our career staff to provide EMS and Fire responses to the citizens living within the Fire District and Ambulance Service Area. As a part of our regular staffing, Student Residents gain valuable hands-on experience in the industry and are trained and positioned for success at obtaining a career position. We are currently accepting applications for the position of Student Resident.
For more information on becoming a Student Resident or to receive an application, please call us at (541) 942-4493 or visit our Cottage Grove station located at 233 Harrison Ave. Cottage Grove, OR 97424 between 8 AM and 5 PM Monday-Friday.
"The Student Resident program at South Lane County Fire & Rescue is designed to make you successful. Nothing beats the hands-on experience you get; both as a firefighter, and also in an ambulance. My time as a Student Resident really made a difference with my Paramedic classes. As a Student Resident for South Lane, you're an integral part of the team. The staff at South Lane makes it their priority to help you be successful, and to prepare you for getting that job as a Firefighter or Paramedic!"
- Tim Heuser
"Being a Student Resident with South Lane County Fire & Rescue has given me on the job experience with career personnel and furthered my EMT skills. I have been able to expand my firefighter knowledge, skills, and NFPA certifications working along-side career
Firefighter/Paramedics who are committed to hands on training and continuous growth as a department.
As a Student Resident I was able to pursue and complete an education towards an Associates of Applied Science degree in Paramedicine that South Lane County Fire & Rescue helped encourage and prepare me for every step of the way."
- Luke Bean
"South Lane County Fire & Rescue's Student Resident program is one of the best I know of. Not only gives you real life experience in Fire/EMS, but also provides you free rooming, tuition scholarship, and a monthly scholarship for living expenses. I highly recommend anybody interested in this field to consider this program."
Travis Hansen
CERT
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
South Lane County Fire & Rescue has two CERT programs; one for adult community members and one for teens in the community.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. Community members are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, incident command, and disaster medical operations. Using skills learned in classroom training and drills and exercises, CERT members can assist others after an event and before first responders can arrive on the scene.
Across the country, local CERT programs provide training and support for teams in all sectors of the community—neighbors, employees, students in high schools and colleges, and many other groups.
To learn more about what CERT members do, visit https://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps
Teen CERT
The Teen CERT concept was created to address preparedness and response capabilities from within high schools. While many schools have taken measures to provide for site security analysis and equipment, more effort is needed to train staff and students in school security and emergency response procedures, and to involve youth in the country’s overall emergency preparedness and response plans.
Teen CERT aims to train students in emergency preparedness and basic response to ensure that they have the skills needed to protect themselves, and assist others, in the event of an emergency.
When will the program begin?
We will begin a new recruit class in fall 2025.
Who is eligible?
All community members who are 14 - 20 years of age.
How to Apply for CERT
To apply for CERT, download the application at below. Please turn applications in to South Lane County Fire & Rescue Station 201 at 233 Harrison Ave Cottage Grove, OR 97424