Join Host Christopher Baker and guest Erik Scott, Los Angeles Fire Captain II/Paramedic and lead Public Information Officer (PIO), for a powerful discussion on firefighter mentorship. This episode explores the critical role of motivation, trust-building, and professional relationships—both within the organization and across the communities firefighters serve.
Captain Scott also reflects on the Palisades Fire, sharing firsthand insights into the resilience of first responders who faced horrific, and chaotic conditions on the front lines. Drawing from his book, Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a City, he offers a behind-the-scenes account of the January 2025 Palisades Fire—one of the most complex and demanding emergencies the region has ever encountered.
Biography
Erik Scott is a Captain II / Paramedic and the senior, longest-serving lead Public Information Officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department. With more than two decades of fire service experience, he has become a trusted voice in times of crisis—most notably during the Palisades Fire, when his calm, clear updates guided millions through one of Southern California's most challenging wildfire emergencies.
A qualified Type 1 PIO—the highest level of certification—Scott has responded to nearly every type of emergency imaginable, working alongside the dedicated men and women of the LAFD. He began his career as the Top Overall Recruit and went on to earn degrees in Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Services Management, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. His professional development includes serving as a UCLA paramedic instructor, training as a Terrorism Liaison Officer, and completing the West Point LAFD Leadership Academy.
Scott has conducted tens of thousands of media interviews with local, national, and international outlets, and is frequently deployed to support major wildfires and large-scale disasters as part of Incident Management Teams. A sought-after speaker on crisis communication, he continues to highlight the teamwork and dedication of firefighters and partner agencies, embodying leadership, clarity under pressure, and genuine concern for the communities he serves.
Instagram: @PIOErikScott
Email:
Professionally network with Fire Captain II Erik Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikscott1/
Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a City
Foreword by Sean Penn
December 2025. LOS ANGELES, CA — Behind the flames lies the human story of courage and resilience. In his new memoir, Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a City, (The Three Tomatoes Publishing, January 7, 2026), Los Angeles Fire Captain and lead Public Information Officer Erik Scott delivers a gripping, behind-the- scenes account of the January 2025 Palisades Fire—one of the most complex emergencies the region has ever faced.
Behind the Flames Lies the Human Story of Courage and Resilience
When a wind-driven inferno swept across Southern California, it pushed first responders and entire communities to their limits. Amid hurricane-force winds, mass evacuations, and nonstop breaking news, millions searched for clarity in the chaos. Blending frontline interviews, on-scene observations, Hollywood's red carpets, and leadership forged under impossible conditions, Scott reveals the human side of disaster: the emotional wreckage left behind, the toll on firefighters, and the quiet courage that carries a city through its darkest hours.
This is a non-political, deeply human memoir about resilience:
- Leading when the stakes are life and death
- Navigating the hidden challenges behind major incidents
- Witnessing communities rise from the ashes
- Finding calm when the world ignites
Equal parts cinematic and grounded, Calm Amidst Chaos is a tribute to courage, a study in leadership under fire, and a testament to what happens when ordinary people face extraordinary conditions—and how courage can spread faster than flames.
Calm Amidst Chaos will be available on January 7, 2026, through major online booksellers and in bookstores on request. Wholesale copies are available through Ingram Spark. Pre-orders of the eBook are now available on Amazon.
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Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9931598-6-7
Hardcover ISBN: 979-8-9931598-7-4
eBook: 979-8993159898
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