Interim Santa Monica Fire Chief Appointed

SANTA MONICA, CA — Wolfgang Knabe was appointed Interim Fire Chief for Santa Monica Fire Department, city officials announced Friday.

Knabe, who is a 40-year veteran of the fire service retired as Fullerton/Brea's Fire Chief in 2018 and in July 2020 came out of retirement to lead the Manhattan Beach Fire Department as Interim Fire Chief. He starts the interim role in Santa Monica beginning June 10.

"We are fortunate that Chief Knabe will bring his two decades of leadership experience as a Fire Chief to Santa Monica this Summer," Interim City Manager Lane Dilg said in a statement.

"Chief Knabe’s extensive knowledge and relationships within the Santa Monica Fire Department and across other Southern California agencies together with our strong Santa Monica Fire Department team ensure continued excellence in our fire services during this interim period," Dilg said.

Knabe joined the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1980 following a tour of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. After 22 years of service with LAFD, he served as San Luis Obispo’s fire chief from 2002 to 2005. Chief Knabe retired as Fullerton/Brea’s Fire Chief in 2018, serving Fullerton since 2005 and both cities since 2011 when they merged to become one department.

Before he retired, Knabe also served as a Reserve Police Officer with the LAPD for 16 years and spent seven assigned to the department’s SWAT Team.

"I hope to be able to continue the great work of Fire Chief Bill Walker while the City searches for a new Fire Chief," Knabe said.

"I have seen firsthand the quality of the men and women of the Santa Monica Fire Department and am looking forward to working with them to make sure the department, the community, and the city's needs are met," Knabe said.

As Santa Monica’s Interim Fire Chief, Knabe will lead a team of 134 firefighters and staff, and manage a budget of $46,326,372.

The nationwide recruitment for a fire chief will be led by The Hawkins Company and begins in June.

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