Author Kurt Kamm is the special guest on this episode of the Disaster Podcast. He writes mystery novels about first responders like firefighters, paramedics, and arson investigators. We spend this part of the two part episode talking about the extensive fire and rescue training Kurt got as a civilian in order to learn about firefighting, rescue and emergency medical services. Next week we talk about his new novel Tunnel Visions that looks at the life of urban search and rescue teams.

Imagine being at the edge of a wildfire, knowing that your home, your neighborhood, and everything familiar is about to go up in flames.

As a resident of Southern California, Kurt Kamm was used to the idea of wildfires. Then, in 2006, one of the infamous Malibu wildland fires, the 60 mile-per-hour Santa Ana wind-driven Canyon Fire, burned to Kamm’s front door and destroyed the homes of several of his neighbors. Kurt had just begun his writing career and the lessons he learned from the County Fire Department while writing his first book helped him save his home.