San Jose fire chief Curtis Jacobson retiring

San Jose Fire Chief Curtis Jacobson is retiring effective next month, city officials announced Tuesday.

Jacobson will retire effective Dec. 15 after more than 25 years of service to the city, City Manager David Sykes wrote in a letter to Mayor Sam Liccardo and the City Council.

Jacobson started with the department in 1992 as a recruit firefighter and eventually worked in every bureau and division there before becoming chief in 2015.

Sykes wrote in the letter:

“Curtis has established a reputation as an excellent collaborator, relationship builder, and problem-solver. … He has served the city well.”

Assistant Fire Chief Robert Sapien Jr. will serve as acting fire chief while the city conducts a nationwide search for a new chief, according to Sykes.