Los Angeles Fire Department CERT Program

🚨 LAFD CERT Basic Classes – May 🚨

Ready to be prepared when it matters most? Join one of our FREE 7-week Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes happening across Los Angeles this May.

Learn lifesaving skills including:
✔️ Disaster preparedness
✔️ Fire safety & suppression
✔️ Light search & rescue
✔️ Medical operations
✔️ Team organization

📍 Multiple locations available:
Chinatown • Woodland Hills • Skirball • FS 82 • Sherman Oaks • Palms • CD 7 • Monterey Hills

Spots are filling fast — find a class near you and sign up today.

👉 Register on Eventbrite (link in bio)

Not all fires are the same — and using the wrong extinguisher can make things worse. Knowing your extinguisher classes can help you respond safely and effectively.

🅰️ Class A:
Ordinary combustibles
(Wood, paper, cloth, trash)

🅱️ Class B:
Flammable liquids
(Gasoline, oil, grease)

⚡ Class C:
Electrical fires
(Wiring, outlets, appliances)

🧯 Class D:
Flammable metals
(Magnesium, titanium – typically industrial)

🍳 Class K:
Cooking oils & fats
(Common in kitchens)

✔️ Most homes use ABC extinguishers — effective on the most common fire types.

💡 Remember: PASS
Pull the pin
Aim at the base
Squeeze the handle
Sweep side to side

Your safety comes first. Only fight small, manageable fires — and always have an exit behind you.

🚨 CERT Refresher Drill – Hands-On Training 🚨

In a large scale disaster, emergency responders may be delayed. That’s where trained CERT volunteers step in to support their communities.

Join us for a CERT Refresher Drill to review and practice critical disaster response skills.

📅 Sunday, April 26
⏰ 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM (PST)
📍 LAFD Fire Station 88
5101 N. Sepulveda Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA

✅ Open to all CERT graduates (18+)

⚠️ Required PPE:
Helmet • Goggles • Dust Mask • Gloves
Long pants and closed toe shoes required.

🥪 Bring lunch and drinks and be ready for a day of hands on training.

Prepared communities save lives. 💪

SearchAndRescue EmergencyPreparedness

When CERT teams search a structure, communication is critical. The “X” marking system allows responders to quickly understand:

✔️ Who searched
✔️ When it was searched
✔️ What areas were covered
✔️ How many victims were found

A single slash ( / ) means search has started.
A completed “X” means search is complete and information has been documented.

Clear markings prevent duplicate searches, reduce risk, and help Incident Command track progress.

Prepared volunteers. Organized response. Safer communities.

LAFD CERT is offering multiple classes this March across the city! Learn hands on disaster preparedness, fire safety, medical triage, and how to support your community when it matters most.

📍 Classes are filling quickly
🔗 Go to our Eventbrite to find the class near you
💻 www.cert-la.com

🎓🔥 Congratulations, Palisades CERT Graduates! 🔥🎓

After everything this community has been through, tonight was a powerful reminder of what resilience truly looks like.

To see each of you show up, choosing to learn, to grow, and to serve, it speaks volumes about the heart of the Palisades.

You didn’t just complete a class.
You committed to protecting your neighbors.
You committed to being ready when your community needs you most.

That kind of dedication matters.

In a time when it would have been easy to step back, you stepped forward. You chose preparedness over fear. You chose unity over uncertainty. And you chose to become part of something bigger than yourselves.

We are incredibly proud of every single graduate. Your willingness to learn emergency response skills, support one another, and strengthen this community makes Palisades stronger and safer.

LAFD CERT Valley was honored to join John H. Francis Polytechnic High School’s CERT Club at their Emergency Drill in Sun Valley.

This impressive Teen CERT Club, led by Junior John Franco, meets weekly to review and practice vital CERT skills, so they’re prepared if they’re ever needed in a real emergency. Their commitment, teamwork, and readiness were on full display, and we’re proud to support such motivated young leaders.

Interested in learning life saving skills and joining a CERT class near you?
👉 Visit www.cert-la.com to get started.

Teen CERT in action at Monroe High School!

After learning the basics of medical triage, our Teen CERT students rolled up their sleeves and got hands on practicing splinting and bandaging 🩹💪

From treating simulated injuries to working as a team under pressure, these students are building real world skills that save lives and strengthen their confidence. We’re proud to see them stepping into leadership, learning how to help others, and preparing to be ready when it matters most.

Great work, Monroe High School Teen CERT! The future is capable, prepared, and compassionate 👏🔥

Earthquakes can happen without warning. Knowing what to do before, during, and after can help protect you and those around you.

BEFORE
✔️ Secure heavy furniture
✔️ Build a 72-hour emergency kit
✔️ Create a family emergency plan

DURING
⬇️ DROP to the ground
🛑 COVER your head and neck
✊ HOLD ON until shaking stops

AFTER
✔️ Check yourself and others for injuries
✔️ Check for hazards like gas leaks or damaged appliances
✔️ Be prepared for aftershocks

Preparedness starts now. Take a few minutes today to make a plan, it makes a difference. 💚

🟢 72 HOUR EMERGENCY KIT: BE READY BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES

When an emergency happens, you won’t have time to pack. That’s why every household should have a 72 hour emergency kit ready to go.

What to include in your kit:
💧 Water — 1 gallon per person, per day
🥫 Food — non-perishable items + manual can opener
🩹 First Aid Kit — medications, bandages, gloves
🔦 Light & Power — flashlight, headlamp, extra batteries
📻 Communication — battery or hand-crank radio
📄 Important Documents — IDs, insurance, emergency contacts
💵 Cash — small bills
🧤 Personal Items — sturdy shoes, hygiene items, masks
🐾 Pets & Infants — food, supplies, and comfort items

📍 Where to store your kit:
✔️ Near your main exit
✔️ In the garage or hall closet
✔️ A smaller kit in each vehicle

Preparedness saves lives. Start building your kit today, future you will be grateful. 💚

🚨 Ready to be prepared, not scared? 🚨
Sign up for a FREE 7 week CERT Basic class near you and learn lifesaving skills for real emergencies.
👉 Register now on Eventbrite

ACTIVE SHOOTER: KNOW HOW TO RESPOND

In the event of an active shooter, knowing what to do before it happens can save lives. CERT training emphasizes simple, proven actions to help you stay safe during an emergency.

RUN
➡️ Have an escape plan in mind
➡️ Leave belongings behind
➡️ Keep hands visible when exiting

HIDE
➡️ Get out of the shooter’s view
➡️ Lock and barricade doors
➡️ Silence phones and stay quiet

FIGHT
➡️ Only if you are unable to run or hide
➡️ Use available objects to defend yourself
➡️ Commit to stopping the threat

When safe, call 9-1-1.

Preparedness starts with awareness. Take the time to learn, plan, and stay ready; it matters.