FRANKLIN — Avery Paquette of Laconia is only 13, but last week, she learned how to put out a fire by holding a fire extinguisher and blasting the flames.

She was taking part in a controlled drill, but admits it was still a bit scary, but very important to know. Now, in an emergency, she could help herself or others.

Paquette was one of 14 young people between 12 and 17 who took part in a weeklong Teen CERT Summer Camp the week of Aug. 18, to learn how to respond in any kind of emergency — from a wildfire to a car accident to a fall on a hiking trail.

Sponsored by the Partnership for Public Health and the Franklin Parks & Rec Department, the half-day pilot program was modeled after a Community Emergency Response Team program that’s been offered at the Huot Career and Technical Center in

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