St. Augustine Fire Chief James 'JC' Costeira announces retirement

Costeira's retirement effective Aug. 31

St. Augustine Fire Chief "JC" Costeira announced his retirement Wednesday

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Fire Chief James “JC” Costeira announced his retirement from the St. Augustine Fire Department Wednesday.

A twenty-nine and a half year veteran of the department, Costeira was appointed to the position of chief in February 2014. His retirement will be effective Aug. 31.

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Costeira joined the department in 1987 and rose through the ranks serving as a firefighter. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2000 and then to captain in 2008, before being named chief by City Manager John Regan in 2014. Costeira, who grew up in St. Augustine, finished high school at St. Joseph’s Academy and is the son of James Costeira, who served the city as a commissioner in the late 1980s.

With news of the announcement, City Manager John Regan will begin the process of naming a new chief to ensure a smooth transition over the next few weeks.

As city manager, Regan has the responsibility of hiring all upper management personnel, including the fire chief. Under the civil service policies that govern the hiring process for the fire department, the city manager must first consider applicants from within the department. If no qualified applicants are found within the department, the city manager may request the Civil Service Board to waive the rule and allow the acceptance of applications from outside the department.

“When JC was appointed, I knew we had a person who knew every aspect of the department, its goals, challenges and most of all, its personnel,” Regan said. “The entire community is very fortunate to have had the benefit of JC’s years of service and leadership, his skill, knowledge and commitment. He leaves the department better and the city safer, and for that we all owe him our gratitude.”

“It has been an honor to serve the St. Augustine community as a firefighter, and to have worked with some of the finest people I have ever known,” Costeira said. “Each and every day for nearly three decades, I have seen the men and women of the department do their best to protect our city. Truly, it has been a privilege to be a member of the St. Augustine Fire Department and I wish only the greatest success for the City of St. Augustine. I now look forward to spending more time with my family and friends.”