A group of Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Millbrae high school students will put their new emergency skills to the test Saturday, July 18, when the Central County Fire Department's Teen CERT Boot Camp wraps up with a disaster exercise and graduation ceremony in Millbrae.

Day 2 runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the David J. Chetcuti Community Room, 450 Poplar Ave., Millbrae. Parents and guardians are invited to observe the disaster exercise and attend the graduation ceremony.

Registration is closed. As of July 15 all spots are taken, according to the program's Eventbrite page. Teens who missed the cutoff can email CERT Coordinator Kaz Chiao at [email protected] to join a waitlist.

The two-day program, coordinated by Chiao, trains teens in grades 9 through 12 to respond during emergencies when professional first responders are overwhelmed. Participants completed Day 1 on Saturday, July 11, learning to assist injured people, extinguish small fires, conduct light search and rescue, identify hazards, and organize volunteer teams. The boot camp is free and requires no prior experience.

CCFD, which serves Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Millbrae, maintains more than 250 CERT volunteers across the three cities, according to the Town of Hillsborough's CERT page.

Adults interested in emergency preparedness training can sign up for the Fall 2026 CERT Basic Training, which runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 29 through Oct. 20. Details are available on the CCFD website or by emailing [email protected].

Upcoming community events

  • Saturday, July 18 — CCFD Teen CERT Boot Camp Day 2, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., David J. Chetcuti Community Room, 450 Poplar Ave., Millbrae (waitlist only; email [email protected])
  • Saturday, Aug. 8 — Peninsula Health Care District 2nd Annual Age Well Health Fair, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 1875 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame. Free health screenings; seniors receive free Burlingame Farmers Market vouchers.
  • Sept. 29–Oct. 20 — CCFD Fall 2026 CERT Basic Training, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free, open to adults. Contact [email protected].