05/02/2026
🔥 CERT Basic Class: Two Weekends of Learning, Lifting, Laughing… and Yes, Real Fire 🔥
Over the last two weekends, our newest CERT trainees from all around the county have been soaking up skills faster than a sponge in a flood. They learned how to assess patients, organize chaos, lift heavy things without lifting each other’s backs out of alignment, and generally become the kind of neighbors you definitely want around when things go sideways.
A couple of our own Central Coast Fire volunteers jumped in to teach first aid and medical triage, medical assessments, and how to stay calm when everyone else is loudly not calm. And then came the moment everyone secretly waits for…
The fire extinguisher lab.
Yes, they got to put out an actual fire.
Yes, it was under the very watchful eye of Captain Knudson, who made sure the flames behaved and the students didn’t roast their eyebrows off.
And yes, everyone walked away feeling like a superhero with a red canister.
They also tackled light search and rescue, cribbing, disaster prep, teamwork, and all the “organized chaos” that CERT is famous for. Today’s final disaster simulation tied it all together, fake victims, real pressure, and a whole lot of “Wait, where’s my triage tape?”
Why does all this matter?
Because when a disaster or mass‑casualty incident hits, CERT members are the calm, capable, community‑powered force that helps keep things moving. They support first responders, help their neighbors, and bring order to the kind of day no one wants to have.
If you’re curious about joining the next class, or just want to learn more, reach out to Lincoln County Emergency Management or visit the Central Coast Fire & Rescue website. You might just discover your inner disaster‑response rockstar.
