17: State Fire and Rescue Chief Kim Zagaris

Join Host Christopher Baker and guest, State Fire and Rescue Chief (Retired) Kim Zagaris, for an in-depth conversation about the fire service—from starting a career on the front lines to leading at the statewide level as California's OES State Fire and Rescue Chief. In this episode, they discuss the importance of mentorship, the growing challenges of recruitment and retention across California and across the nation, and why the fire service remains one of the most meaningful and purpose-driven careers someone can pursue.

Biography:

Kim Zagaris—often known as "Chief Z"—is a veteran fire service leader and emergency management expert with more than four decades of experience. He currently serves as the Wildfire Policy and Technology Advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, a role created in response to the growing severity and frequency of wildfires across the western United States.

Chief Zagaris spent 18 years as the State Fire and Rescue Chief for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, where he oversaw statewide fire and rescue operations. Across a 48-year career, he worked with local, state, federal, and international agencies, playing a key role in nearly every major emergency in California during his tenure, as well as several national incidents. He served under six governors, reflecting both continuity and trust in his leadership.

A central part of his work involved coordinating large-scale systems and programs. As Executive Coordinator for the Cal OES Fire and Rescue Services Advisory Committee and the FIRESCOPE Board of Directors, he helped guide statewide policy on mutual aid, the Incident Command System, training standards, safety, and resource coordination. He also managed major initiatives, including the California Incident Command Certification System and the California Fire Assistance Agreement.

During his tenure, Chief Zagaris significantly expanded California's fire apparatus fleet—from 106 to 300 units—and helped manage a vast mutual aid system involving more than 1,100 fire agencies and roughly 55,000 firefighters operating around 6,000 engines statewide.

His contributions have been widely recognized. In 2007, the California Fire Chiefs Association named him Fire Chief of the Year. In 2010, James Lee Witt awarded him the American Hero Award for his work in strengthening national disaster preparedness. That same year, the International Association of Fire Chiefs honored him with the President's Recognition Award, citing his leadership in large-scale incident response. In 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the California State Firefighters' Association for exceptional contributions to the fire service.

Known for his direct leadership style and deep operational experience, Chief Zagaris is widely regarded as a national authority on incident command and emergency response coordination.

Show Notes: https://www.thebakerpodcast.com/blog/17-state-fire-and-rescue-chief-kim-zagaris