Florida-Georgia Lutheran Early Response will provide Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Basic Chainsaw training on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The chainsaw training serves to increase our dedicated LERT volunteer’s capabilities to help those who haven’t the means or skills to perform this dangerous work following a disaster. We want to equip LERT members with the ability to provide this service safely and efficiently.
Training will be held at Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center, 1920 Streetman Drive, Lithia, FL 33547 (Plant City/Brandon area).
Lunch is provided. Bottled water will be furnished at the site.
You must have previously completed the LERT basic training class to participate in this class.
During the training, you will learn the following:
- Safe operation of a chainsaw
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Injury prevention
- How to buck and limb fallen trees
- How to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner
- Those age of 14 - 17 may attend the classroom portion and become a dragger but will not be able to become a puller or chainsaw operator until they have reached the age of 18.
The morning session is classroom lecture. All LERT qualified volunteers are invited to attend.
The afternoon session is hands-on with a saw. The morning session must be attended to participate.
To be authorized to use a chainsaw on LERT disaster responses as an LCMS LERT Chainsaw Operator, you must attend BOTH the classroom and "hands-on" sessions.
Afternoon hands-on participants should bring, if they have:
- Chainsaw, bar oil, gas-oil or synthetic fuel mix
- Chaps and other Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, gloves, steel-toed boots)
- Participants must wear steel-toed work boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed in the afternoon session.
- Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time. Shorts not allowed.
- Some chainsaws and PPE will be available for training if you do not have your own.
- Those that are under the age of 18 will not be allowed to operate a chainsaw.
Training Costs:
- Morning and Afternoon (LERT qualified Chainsaw Operator) - $50 ($75/couple).
- Morning Only (Non-Operator) - $15.
- Payment may be made at www.fgler.org, or at the time of training. Cash, checks (payable to "Florida-Georgia Lutheran Early Response, Inc."), or credit card accepted.
NOTE: This is a full-day training; please do not sign up for another class offering.
Should you have any questions, please contact Joel Mathews at (813) 215-8098 or at jmathews@fgler.org.