17 Residents Graduate CERT Training Program, Ready to Serve in Emergencies

Seventeen more local residents have officially graduated from the city’s Community Emergency Response Team training program, Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin announced Thursday, after they completed 21 hours of intensive instruction designed to prepare volunteers for emergency response. 

The graduates are now equipped to assist their families, neighbors and broader community during disasters, joining a growing network of trained civilians ready to support first responders in large-scale incidents. 

The Community Emergency Response Team program, offered free of charge by the Pasadena Fire Department, is part of a national initiative originally developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985 and later adopted by FEMA. 

Pasadena’s Community Emergency Response Team curriculum spans three days and includes hands-on training in fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Participants must attend all sessions and pass a final exam to earn certification. The city’s version of the program builds on FEMA’s 17.5-hour baseline with additional instruction tailored to regional hazards and local coordination strategies.

“The Mission of Pasadena Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team is to prepare the community in anticipation of incidents or disasters by providing training, planning, resources, and community outreach,” the department states on its official website. 

The most recent session ran from July 27 to August 9, with classes held on three consecutive weekends. The department continues to offer regular training opportunities and encourages residents to register via email at PreparedPasadena@cityofpasadena.com. 

Community Emergency Response Team graduates serve as a bridge between the public and professional responders, enhancing neighborhood-level resilience and readiness. 

The next CERT class session is scheduled for the following dates and times in September: 

• Saturday, September 13 | 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 20 | 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 27 | 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

Register online at bit.ly/PFDCERT. Participants must attend all three classes to graduate and receive a certificate of completion. Space is limited with priority registration is given to Pasadena residents.

For more information on upcoming classes, visit the Pasadena Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team page.