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# Hone fired up on SMFD’s top job
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/hone-fired-up-on-smfds-top-job/
- Published: 2003-10-09T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:03:51.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Assistant Chief, Fire Marshal Jim Hone lays out plans for department*

As he prepares to take the helm of the Santa Monica Fire Department on Friday at 5 p.m., Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Jim Hone is already hatching plans for his 115-person division.

Hone, 49, who first applied with the department while on leave from the Air Force in 1979, this week was chosen as Santa Monica’s Fire Chief from what began as a pool of 24 applicants.

“I still haven’t touched the ground,” said Hone, who moved last month from Thousand Oaks into an apartment north of Wilshire Boulevard with his wife of 17 years, Linda. “It’s a really exciting time.”

Hone, who grew up in Torrance, will meet for the first time with his staff on Oct. 20 to discuss his plans for the department. He said he will push for more in-house and specialty training for firefighters in areas like dealing with hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction, and urban search and rescue situations.

He also said he wants fire department managers to get better at processing paperwork, and thinks the division as a whole could be more involved in the community and with City Hall.

“I think we can always improve,” said Hone, who will earn a base annual salary of $137,064, according to City Hall documents. “We’re a good team player amongst ourselves... we just don’t have enough instances to play together.”

Though Hone’s experience as a firefighter has mostly been in Santa Monica, he’s regarded as an expert in urban search and rescue procedures, and has been on the scene of six disasters throughout the nation, including the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City and Ground Zero in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

Hone also co-wrote the manual on urban search and rescue procedure for the state of California, which he says is at the forefront of disaster response because of earthquakes, fires and floods.

Jack Hone, Hone’s little brother and a Santa Monica firefighter, died in 1996 after responding to a hazardous materials spill. His name is listed on a plaque in front of the new Public Safety Facility that commemorates officers who died in the line of duty.

“I get to see his name every time I get to work. It’s good,” Hone said.

> “I get to see his name every time I get to work. It’s good,” — Hone said. I’m so proud of our firefighters... but that drive home Friday is going to be tough.” — ETTORE BERARDINELLI Retired Fire Chief

Called “Baby Hone” by the other firefighters, Jack Hone, 35, was diagnosed with lung cancer and died three months later after he cleaned up a toxic plaster spill that fell off the back of a truck in Santa Monica. Hone said his brother cleaned up the mess before anyone knew how dangerous the chemical was.

That experience and what he’s witnessed on the scene of local and national disasters has left Hone humbled and respectful of life, he said. Asked if he is religious, Hone said, “Not really. If you’ve been through some of the shit that I’ve been through, you enjoy every day and cherish the people you love.”

After spending six years in the Air Force as a firefighter and aircraft rescue specialist, Hone was hired as a Santa Monica firefighter and paramedic in 1980\. In 1983, he was promoted to fire captain and paramedic, and in 1988 he was named captain of the hazardous materials unit. In 1990, Hone became support services division chief, and in 1995 he was promoted to assistant chief and fire marshal.

Throughout his career, Hone said his philosophy has been constant.

“You can acquire anything with teamwork, open communication and trust,” he said. “You have to give trust before you can receive it. I really believe that.”

> “You have to give trust before you can receive it. I really believe that.” — — JIM HONE SM’s next Fire Chief

Once he’s officially named chief on Friday, Hone will move into a corner office in the new Public Safety Facility overlooking the Fourth Street overpass.

One of Hone’s biggest challenges will be keeping in touch with all the firefighters and paramedics in the five fire stations located throughout the city because the new administrative offices are isolated in the Public Safety Facility, said retired Fire Chief Ettore Berardinelli. He added that Hone beat a handful of exceptional competitors for the job and he’s confident Hone will do well as chief.

Berardinelli, who has filled in as chief while City Manager Susan McCarthy decided on a successor, is stepping down after more than 30 years in Santa Monica. He officially retired in July.

Asked what he’ll do next, Berardinelli, a father of three who enjoys working with his hands, said, “Just get ready for a new life, starting Friday at 5 p.m. I’m so proud of our firefighters... but that drive home Friday is going to be tough.”

Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Jim Hone

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/100903-01_01-7.jpg)

Jim Hone, who will be named Fire Chief on Friday after nearly 24 years with the SMFD, stands next to a plaque that pays tribute to officers killed in the line of duty. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 9, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)