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Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a City
Behind the Flames Lies the Human Story of Courage and Resilience
Foreword by Sean Penn
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.
In Calm Amidst Chaos, 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. Blending frontline interviews, on-scene observations, Hollywood’s red carpets, and leadership forged under impossible conditions, Scott reveals the human side of 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
• 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.
“Captain Erik Scott has a gift for humanizing crises—his steady communication kept Angelenos informed and reassured when they needed it most. Calm Amidst Chaos is a powerful reflection and moving story of that same grace under pressure."~ Eric Garcetti, Former Mayor of Los Angeles, and U.S. Ambassador to India
"When breaking news unfolds in Los Angeles, Captain Erik Scott is the voice journalists trust. Calm Amidst Chaos takes you behind the cameras to show how leadership and empathy can save lives." ~ Robert Kovacik, Anchor & Reporter, NBC Los Angeles
Foreword by Sean Penn
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.
In Calm Amidst Chaos, 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. Blending frontline interviews, on-scene observations, Hollywood’s red carpets, and leadership forged under impossible conditions, Scott reveals the human side of 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
• 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.
“Captain Erik Scott has a gift for humanizing crises—his steady communication kept Angelenos informed and reassured when they needed it most. Calm Amidst Chaos is a powerful reflection and moving story of that same grace under pressure."~ Eric Garcetti, Former Mayor of Los Angeles, and U.S. Ambassador to India
"When breaking news unfolds in Los Angeles, Captain Erik Scott is the voice journalists trust. Calm Amidst Chaos takes you behind the cameras to show how leadership and empathy can save lives." ~ Robert Kovacik, Anchor & Reporter, NBC Los Angeles
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 9, 2026
The first half of this book is fascinating. It's all about how the fire was managed, and a couple of anecdotes about survival and firefighters defending various locations. It's interesting, inspiring, and I would've loved more of these stories and more about the process of managing and eventually controlling the fire. The second half is about recovery.
Overall, a well-written and timely book. For me, the first half was the best part.
Overall, a well-written and timely book. For me, the first half was the best part.
February 4, 2026
“Information was survival”: A powerful account of the Palisades Fire
Almost 20 years ago, after I left journalism, a deputy fire chief called me. “You remember those incidents where no one could answer your questions because we were all too busy?” he asked. “We need someone to do that job.” That experience is why Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a City resonated so strongly with me.
Calm Amidst the Chaos tells the story of the Palisades Fire from the eyes of LAFD’s lead public information officer, Erik Scott. It’s a gripping narrative, full of hurt but also heroism and humanity.
Scott gives plenty of useful tips to PIOs (“Tell people what is happening, what we are doing about it, and what it means to them” and “Information—timely, accurate, consistent—wasn’t an accessory. It was survival. Deliver those three, and you earn the fourth: credibility.”)
He tells why public information is so important (“Every clear sentence was a lifeline. Every minute mattered” and “In an emergency, you must treat information as a commodity as important as food, water, and shelter.”)
He reminds us of the long, slow, overlooked path to recovery (“Resilience isn’t just about rebuilding homes. It’s about rebuilding people. And that work continues, long after the last ember dies.”)
If you’re in the fire service, emergency management, journalism, or serve in local government, you need to read Calm Amidst the Chaos.
Almost 20 years ago, after I left journalism, a deputy fire chief called me. “You remember those incidents where no one could answer your questions because we were all too busy?” he asked. “We need someone to do that job.” That experience is why Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a City resonated so strongly with me.
Calm Amidst the Chaos tells the story of the Palisades Fire from the eyes of LAFD’s lead public information officer, Erik Scott. It’s a gripping narrative, full of hurt but also heroism and humanity.
Scott gives plenty of useful tips to PIOs (“Tell people what is happening, what we are doing about it, and what it means to them” and “Information—timely, accurate, consistent—wasn’t an accessory. It was survival. Deliver those three, and you earn the fourth: credibility.”)
He tells why public information is so important (“Every clear sentence was a lifeline. Every minute mattered” and “In an emergency, you must treat information as a commodity as important as food, water, and shelter.”)
He reminds us of the long, slow, overlooked path to recovery (“Resilience isn’t just about rebuilding homes. It’s about rebuilding people. And that work continues, long after the last ember dies.”)
If you’re in the fire service, emergency management, journalism, or serve in local government, you need to read Calm Amidst the Chaos.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews