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South Pasadena Fire Department schedules October CERT class; youth participation limited by liability
Summary
The Public Safety Commission heard an update on the Community Emergency Response Team program, which has taught about 700 students since 2014 and will hold a free three‑day class Oct. 26, 2024. Officials said minors may attend classroom sessions but are restricted from hands‑on live‑fire and some practical drills for liability reasons.
Chief Censley of the South Pasadena Fire Department introduced a presentation on the city’s Community Emergency Response Team program and said staff would give commissioners an update on the 2024 schedule.
“Today, we've taught approximately 700 students. We do 2 classes a year or 15 hour courses, with an annual refresher in May. I average about 20 about 20 students per class,” said Anthony Krell, the department’s CERT coordinator, describing the program’s curriculum in fire suppression, safety, disaster preparation, first aid, light search and rescue and patient movement.
The next CERT class will begin Oct. 26, 2024; Krell said the course is taught on Saturdays across three days so working residents can attend. He told commissioners the class is free, is taught at the fire station, and registration is available through a link on the city’s website.
On youth participation, a commissioner asked whether the department could run separate CERT classes for high‑school students. Krell said the department has encountered liability limits for minors during live‑fire and other hands‑on training and so typically allows people under 18 to attend the classroom portion only and only when accompanied by an adult.
“We don't have a full separate curriculum for teen cert yet. There actually is a teen cert program through FEMA that we haven't adopted yet,” Krell said when asked about a teen curriculum and age ranges.
Commissioners and residents raised questions about exertion and physical limits for students; Krell said instructors work around participants’ physical limitations and that some practical drills use a mannequin (which can weigh up to 200 pounds) moved by six to eight people to teach patient handling techniques safely.
The presentation closed with an invitation to community groups: the department will offer mini‑classes to large school or church groups, but smaller groups are usually asked to attend the regular class. Krell said the department will announce future etching and outreach dates when scheduled.
Ending: The commission did not take formal action on the presentation. Commissioners encouraged staff to follow up on FEMA’s teen CERT curriculum and to provide clearer marketing and registration details when the next class is posted on the city site.
