Redding, California, United States
I am an experienced public safety professional with more than 20 years of service across fire service organizations, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector. My background spans operations, training, and public information, giving me a well-rounded perspective on emergency services and community engagement. I’m known for a compassionate and humble leadership style, and I strive to communicate with clarity and purpose. I leverage strong writing, public speaking, and strategic social media skills to connect with and educate diverse audiences effectively. My work centers on community risk reduction, public education, and advancing firefighter health and safety. I am committed to building trust, sharing knowledge, and supporting the well-being of both first responders and the communities they serve.
Host Christopher Baker leads insightful discussions on topics like firefighter mentorship, recruitment and retention, SAFER Grants, entry-level fire academy training programs, Regional Occupational Programs (ROP), high school pre-service pathways, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance in the fire service. The Baker Podcast emphasizes the importance of intentional planning for success in mind, body, and spirit—while challenging listeners to make the fire service better than they found it. Podcast Episodes: 1: Fire Chief Timothy Sendelbach 2: Chief Daniel Berlant 3: Fire Chief Jason Caughey 4: Deputy Director Nick Schuler 5: Fire Captain II Tim Werle 6: Assistant Chief Rayne Gray 7: Fire Chaplain Jim Cook 8: Fire Captain II Erik Scott 9: Director Ken Pimlott 10: Fire Chief Damon Covington 11: CPF President Brian K. Rice 12: Former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell 13: Fire Captain Forrest Martin 14: Fire Chief Dennis Compton 15: Jill Shepherd Piercy Clark 16: Jeremy Wade 17: State Fire and Rescue Chief Kim Zagaris 18: Fire Chief Clare Frank 19: Fire Chief John Vance 20: Alisa Arnoff
Provide consulting services to individuals and organizations to enhance, optimize, and grow their social media presence. Services include brand development, as well as fostering and maintaining positive audience engagement and interactions across platforms. Utilize an analytics-driven approach to collect and interpret social media data, measuring performance through key metrics such as likes, follows, clicks, and impressions to inform strategy and drive continuous improvement.
Served as an Officer Candidate and Engine Platoon Leader within the Fire Response Team / Emergency Response Command (ERC), maintaining readiness to deploy on short notice in response to natural and man-made disasters across California. Contributed to Team Blaze, a specialized Type II fire line handcrew supporting the mission of the California State Guard. Operated with a safety-first approach while aggressively engaging in fire suppression efforts to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure. Supported statewide emergency response operations, with the flexibility to assist in a wide range of disaster scenarios beyond wildland fire incidents. Collaborated in strengthening interagency coordination and enhancing operational capabilities in support of California’s fire service and emergency management objectives.
Creator and Host of The Future Firefighter Podcast on Fire Engineering Blog Talk Radio, a platform dedicated to guiding aspiring firefighters through the process of entering the fire service. The podcast emphasizes mentorship, professional development, and positive engagement, while promoting success through a balanced focus on mind, body, and spirit. Each episode delivers practical insights, career planning strategies, and actionable guidance to help listeners prepare for and succeed in a career in the fire service. Achieved 194,696 total downloads as of November 2023. Podcast Episodes: • 41 Live from FDIC 2018: Dr. Harry R. Carter • 40. Captain Terrence Manley • 39. Fire Captain (Ret.) Julie Rider • 38. Firefighter Paramedic Tim White • 37. Fire Captain Jason Shanley • 35. Chief Rick Lasky • 34. Former Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator Tonya Hoover • 33. Fire Captain (Ret.) Erika Enslin • 32. Fire Captain Chris Ruano • 31. Fire Chief Dave Emanuel • 30. Battalion Chief Chad Costa • 29. National Fire Chief (Ret.) Tom Harbour • 28. Dr. Kellie O’Dare & Blake Richardson • 27. Deputy Chief Ian Emmons • 26. Deputy Chief Joe Powers • 25. Ben May • 24. How to Become a Firefighter for the Los Angeles Fire Department • 22. Growing Leaders Using Empowerment with Larry Conley • 21. Surviving the Fire Service: Assistant Chief (Ret.) Todd LeDuc • 19. Fire Chief (Ret). Bill Killen: Fire Service History • 17. Lead Where You Are • 15. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin • 14. Dr. Rich Gasaway • 13. Rescue Captain Justin Schorr • 12. Live from FDIC 2019: Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder • 11. Deputy Chief (Ret.) Frank Viscuso • 6. Deputy Chief (Ret.) Steve Prziborowski • 5. Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac • 2. Building the Unbreakable Firefighter • 1. Debut Episode
Served as a Fire Science Instructor within the California Community Colleges system, delivering comprehensive instruction aligned with district policies, course outlines, and institutional mission. Under administrative leadership, developed and implemented curriculum for both classroom and laboratory settings, ensuring consistency with official course objectives and academic standards. Prepared and distributed detailed course syllabi outlining learning objectives, grading criteria, and classroom expectations. Fostered a respectful and inclusive learning environment in accordance with district policies and applicable laws. Actively contributed to curriculum development and review, participated in professional development, and engaged in shared governance through committee service at the department, college, and district levels. Instructional experience includes a broad range of Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) courses, such as: Fundamentals of Fire Prevention Fire Protection Equipment and Systems Fire Orientation and Organization Building Construction for Fire Protection Fire Behavior and Combustion Principles of Fire Safety and Survival Additional courses taught include: Introduction to Fire Technology Careers Incident Command System (ICS 200–300) National Incident Management System (NIMS 700a) Wildland Firefighter (CDF Basic 67) Basic Firefighter Training (Basic 32) Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Confined Space Rescue Awareness Delivered instruction across multiple formats, including traditional in-person classes, dual/concurrent enrollment courses at the high school level, and fully online college-level courses utilizing the Canvas learning management system.
Served as an Adjunct Instructor within accredited regional training programs at Shasta College and College of the Siskiyous, delivering comprehensive fire and emergency services education across Firefighter 1 Academy and EMS programs. At Shasta College Firefighter 1 Academy, served as Lead Instructor for multiple curriculum units, including Firefighter Safety, Communications, Fire Extinguishers, Utility Control at Emergencies, Structural Firefighting Operations, and Suppression of Fires Outside of a Structure. Additionally, provided instruction as a Skills Instructor for Structure Fire Search and Rescue Operations and Firefighter Survival, emphasizing hands-on training, safety, and operational readiness. Within the Shasta College EMS program, served as Lead Instructor for CPR, First Responder, Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) courses, preparing students for certification and real-world emergency response. At College of the Siskiyous Firefighter 1 Academy, served as Lead Instructor for Firefighter Safety and Incident Command System (ICS 200), reinforcing foundational safety principles and command structure essential for emergency operations. Demonstrated commitment to student success through high-quality instruction, practical skills development, and alignment with state training standards and industry best practices.