Escaping the Palisades Fire

About this episode

The episode recounts a harrowing rescue during the Palisades Fire, focusing on the challenges faced by elderly individuals in emergencies.

In January 2025, a deadly fire blazed through the hills north of Los Angeles. Amidst the inferno, Aaron Samson needed to get his 83-year-old father-in-law, Ron, to safety. Aaron didn’t have a vehicle, and Ron has Parkinson’s disease. They tried 911. They tried to get a rideshare. They were on foot when they encountered Andrew Lin. He was attempting a different rescue when he stopped to save them instead. We also talk with Jennifer Oteng, a geriatric outreach nurse, about helping people during an emergency — specifically elderly people with physical or cognitive limitations.

People in this episode

Guest: Jennifer Oteng

Topics covered

• emergency response
• elderly care
• wildfire
• rescue
• healthcare
• Parkinson's disease

Keywords

• Palisades Fire
• rescue
• elderly
• Parkinson's disease
• emergency services
• wildfire
• Los Angeles

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Los Angeles