St. Augustine Fire Department

05/21/2026

This afternoon, City Fire- A-shift responded to, and quickly extinguished, a residential structure fire on Newcomb St. The cause of the fire was a Lithium Ion E-bike battery which went into thermal runaway. Fortunately, one quick-thinking young resident closed the door to the fire room before evacuating the home, containing the majority of heat to that room and limiting fire spread to the rest of the house. All occupants were reported safe, including the family turtle.
Remember:
• Always charge lithium ion batteries using the manufacturer’s recommended charger
• Keep an eye on batteries while they’re charging
• Look for warning signs of thermal runaway such as swelling, overheating, strange odors, leaking, or smoking
• Never charge batteries near exits or in sleeping areas
• Stop using damaged batteries immediately
• If a battery begins smoking or catches fire, evacuate and call 911 🔥

05/08/2026

Firefighters from St. Augustine Fire Department, St. Johns County Fire Rescue, Palatka Fire Department, Jacksonville Fire Rescue, and other surrounding departments are starting Friday off right with Justin McWilliams from Search Culture

04/21/2026

Crews assisted Putnam County along US 17 north of Bostwick near the Clay/Putnam county line.

04/06/2026

Seconds matter.

At the St. Augustine Fire Department, we proudly offer free CPR and AED training for local businesses and residents.

These lifesaving skills make a real difference in an emergency. Recently, training we provided helped staff and volunteers at the St. Augustine Lighthouse save a life just days later.

Be ready when it matters most.

Contact us at 904-825-1098 or visit citystaugfire.com to sign up for free CPR and AED training.

03/05/2026

Congratulations to Chance Hines on an incredible milestone:
This week he celebrated 30 years of dedicated service with the St Augustine Fire Dept.
From battling wildfires across the country to serving our local community as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Instructor, and countless other titles, he has certainly touched and inspired countless lives, and he’s not ready to stop anytime soon.
We thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for residents and visitors of St Augustine and abroad.
Here’s to many more safe shifts ahead! 🚒

02/19/2026

Today, members from our department were honored to attend Fire Service Day at the Capitol to highlight one of the initiatives we’re especially proud of- our Spark the Flame girl’s camp🔥
Our booth represented not only City Fire’s program, but girl’s fire camps being hosted throughout the state, including with whom we shared the booth. We were proud to meet with Representatives like our local to share information and advocate for the opportunities that our camps provide. Thanks to everyone who put on this meaningful event and the State Fire Marshal’s office for the invitation.

02/08/2026

Around 4:00 we received a call for a vessel in distress with a dog and 3 people aboard. Our fire boat responded along side St. Johns County Marine Rescue, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Coast Guard Southeast Sector Jacksonville. The victims were removed from the vessel and placed aboard a public safety vessel while it was pulled from the hazardous conditions. Commercial salvage responded to complete to towing operation. Our joint training and partnerships on the water allow for seamless emergency operations.

11/11/2025

The men and women of the St Augustine Fire Department want to thank all those who have ever raised their right hand in an oath to defend our great nation. We are grateful for your service and sacrifice.

11/04/2025

🔥 Fire Prevention Month Recap 🔥

October may be over, but fire safety is still a year-round practice! Last month, our firefighters and prevention bureau visited city-wide elementary schools and daycares to remind our students:

👩‍🚒 Firefighters are your friends — never be afraid of us!
🏠 Every home needs a fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.
🚫 Playing with matches, lighters, or other “grown-up tools” can cause burns or fires.
➡️ If there’s ever a fire — get out and stay out!

In accordance with this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week, we also introduced our older students to Lithium Ion battery safety. Remember to always:
🔋 Buy batteries and devices from reputable sources
⚡ Charge batteries on a hard, flat surface — never on a bed or couch
🔌 Use only the charger that came with the device
♻️ Recycle batteries properly when they’re no longer needed

You can find safe battery recycling locations near you by visiting Call2Recycle.org.

Thank you to our schools, teachers, and families for helping make Fire Prevention Month a success!

10/11/2025

‼️ SATURDAY, October 11: Anticipate flooding and road closures, including the Bridge of Lions and King Street bridge, between 11:30am and 2:30pm today in the same areas and locations as yesterday. Impacts will be dependent on areas that are more prone to flooding.

⚠️Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for the entirety of the Atlantic Coast and St. Johns River Basin through at least this evening's high tide
🌊Many tide gauges have already peaked at Moderate Flood Stage, with several briefly reaching Major Flood Stage including near downtown Saint Augustine (photo below)
⚠️Flooding of nearby coastal/river roads is already occurring - turn around, don't drown!