Our Story
Northern California Rescue Training (NCRT) was founded by six Firefighters from the San Francisco Fire Department in 2002. For nearly 2 decades, our staff has been providing training courses, evolving into one of the industry leaders in technical rescue training.
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Along with teaching and field experience, NCRT has been involved in specialized training at locations like the NASA/Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, the Center for National Preparedness in West Virginia, as well as Disaster City at Texas A&M.
NCRT's rescue training programs are provided through field-tested, safe and effective techniques and intensive hands-on courses. We offer high quality, realistic training to those responders that are required to perform High Risk / Low Frequency rescue operations. Our cadre of instructors are from Fire Departments around the state and members from both FEMA USAR CA Task Force 3 and 4. NCRT aims to provide you with the appropriate theories, knowledge, skills and real world tactics necessary to mitigate technical rescue incidents.
We provide instruction for Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations, Rescue Systems 1 and 2, Confined Space Awareness and Technician, Trench Rescue Technician, ICS, Safety Officer Development, Industrial Emergency Response Training and Industrial Refresher Training. NCRT’s training staff can travel to any location to provide LARRO training, or to any State Certified Site to provide Rescue Systems or Confined Space training as needed. We also have experience with State Fire Training Site Certification and course development.
All NCRT instructors are certified through State Fire Training and look forward to working with you, your department or agency.
Instructors
Thomas Jaquysh
Thom retired from the SFFD in 2011. He is a CA State Fire Marshal certified Instructor for LARRO, RS1 (Senior), RS2 (Senior) and Confined Space Rescue Technician (Senior) and Trench Rescue Technician (Senior). He is a Rescue Specialist with FEMA USAR California Task Force 3. Thom is also an adjunct Instructor for the NASA Ames Collapsed Structure Rescue course.
Tom “Dozer” Oakley
Tom retired in 2016 as a Battalion Chief with the Contra Costa County Fire District. Tom is a CA State Fire Training instructor for LARRO, Rescue Systems 1, Confined Space Rescue Technician and Trench Rescue. Tom is a certified heavy equipment operator and instructor for CCCFPD, and is a member of FEMA USAR CA Task Force 4 as rescue team manager/ transportation and rigging specialist.
Steve Travis
Steve is a retired Captain from Contra Costa Fire District, hired in 1983. Steve has worked in the technical rescue world since 1990, and was the CCCFD Technical Rescue Instructor. He was also a multi-subject recruit academy instructor. Steve is a CA State Fire Training certified in LARRO, RS1, RS2, Trench Rescue Technician (Senior), Confined Space Awareness & Rescue Technician and an ICS instructor.
Arthur Belton
Arthur is a Battalion Chief with the San Jose Fire Department. He is certified as a CA State Fire Marshal Instructor for LARRO, RS1, Trench Rescue Technician (Senior), Confined Space Rescue Technician, and Rescue Boat Operations. Arthur is a member of FEMA USAR California Task Force 3. Arthur is also an instructor in EMS and general firefighting skills, teaching at the San Jose Fire Academy and South Bay Academy. He is also an adjunct instructor for the NASA Ames Collapsed Structure Rescue.
John Farrell
John is currently a 31 year Fire Captain with the Oakland Fire Department. He is currently the Department’s Technical Rescue Program Manager. He serves as the lead Safety Officer on CATF-4, and is also a registered Rescue Specialist/Technician Instructor for FEMA/Homeland Security. He is a CSFM rescue instructor for RS1, RS2, Trench (senior), Confined Space, River & Flood, Open Water & Basic Air Operations. He is an active member of Cal Fire’s Military Helicopter Program as a Helicopter Manager. Mission profiles include water dropping, crew shuttling and “aided” Hoist/Rescue. (24 hour with NVG).
Patrick Gardner
Hired by the SFFD in 1981, Pat retired in 2011 as Deputy Chief of Operations. Pat is a CA State Fire Marshal certified Instructor for LARRO, RS1, RS2 and Confined Space Technician and Trench Rescue Technician (Senior).
Anthony R. Smerdel
Hired by the SFFD in 1979, Tony retired as a Battalion Chief in 2012. Tony has CA State Fire Training certifications to teach Emergency Medical Technician, LARRO, RS1 (Senior), RS2, Confined Space Rescue Technician (Senior), Trench Rescue Technician (Senior), HazMat First Responder Awareness, Operations and Operations-Decontamination. Tony is an adjunct instructor for the NASA Ames Collapsed Structure Rescue course. He is also a member of FEMA USAR California Task Force 3.
John Haley
Hired with the Modesto Fire Dept in 1999, John is an engineer assigned to Truck 11. He has been a technical rescue instructor for the last 15 years. John is an instructor at the RFTC FF1 academy located in Modesto. John is a registered CA State Fire Training instructor for LARRO, RS1 (Senior), RS2, Trench Rescue Technician (Senior), and Confined Space Rescue.
Seth Johnson
Seth is currently a Fire Captain with the Menlo Park Fire where he has worked for 12 years. Seth has been a member of FEMA US&R California Task Force 3 for 12 years and currently holds the position of Rescue Team Manager. Seth is a CA State Fire Training Instructor for Confined Space Awareness, LARRO, RS1, RS2, RS3 and Rope Rescue Technician.