The Beverly Hills Fire Department and Just in Case BH host a free emergency preparedness fair Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Farmers' Market site on Third Street.

The fair runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 9333 Third Street, according to the city's Just in Case BH program page. The event is free and open to the public.

It marks the start of National Preparedness Month under the theme "Beverly Hills Stands Ready."

What residents can expect

Just in Case BH, a volunteer program affiliated with Beverly Hills city government, trains residents through Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) courses, CPR and AED certification, and a block captain communication network. The fair serves as an introduction to those programs.

CERT training covers fire extinguisher safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, first aid and active-shooter awareness. The full course runs six sessions over 21 hours. CPR classes follow American Heart Association guidelines and carry a two-year certification.

The city has also renamed its nine emergency zones from Zone 1–9 to BHL 101 through BHL 901, aligning with state and regional agency designations. Residents can look up their zone at beverlyhills.org/justincasebh.

Fire Chief Greg Barton said in a May 26 city press release announcing the zone changes that "preparedness is a shared responsibility" and urged residents to learn which zone covers their home in case of an evacuation order.

Why it matters

In a major disaster, fire and police response may be delayed. Medical care could take up to 72 hours to arrive depending on severity, according to the fire department.

The city encourages residents to be self-sufficient for at least seven days, according to a September 2025 National Preparedness Month announcement.

A January 2026 fire department memo to the Beverly Hills Health and Human Relations Commission called the preparedness fairs a recurring outreach effort. The City Council has recognized Just in Case BH as a model for community engagement, according to that memo.

How to get involved

Residents who want to go further after the fair can sign up for the October 2026 CERT training, which is now accepting registrations through the city's website. For emergency information, Beverly Hills residents can call the city's Disaster Hotline at (310) 550-4680 or sign up for Nixle alerts by texting BEVHILLS or BHPDALERT to 888777.