Longtime St. Cloud Fire Rescue employee Bill Johnston has been appointed St. Cloud’s acting fire chief, replacing Charlie Lewis, who is retiring soon as leader of the department after 16 years.

Lewis’ last official day with the department is July 1. At that time, an official search for a fire chief will be conducted by the city of St. Cloud.

“There are good qualified people out there and there needs to be a good, healthy search,” said Johnston, indicating he would be in the running himself.

Johnston said the city would accept applications and advertise for 30 days. He said he anticipates a decision being made sometime in September.

Johnston, a 47-year-old St. Cloud native raised in Kissimmee, has been employed with St. Cloud Fire Rescue for the past 25 years and was an assistant fire chief before being appointed the department’s acting leader by City Manager Tom Hurt on Wednesday.

In taking on the new role, Johnston couldn’t say enough about his retiring boss.

“This guy is an icon in the fire industry. He really is,” Johnston said.

Johnston said since his father died in 1978, there have only been two men in his life who have encouraged him in an extremely positive way. One, he said, was his Osceola High School swim coach Jay Markley.

“He (Markley) is a really neat guy. And there has never been a man since then who has had such a positive influence on my life as Charlie Lewis has. He’s just a really great man to work for,” Johnston said.

In replacing Lewis as chief in an acting capacity, Johnston will oversee the department of 57 employees. And, he said, he won’t be standing still merely waiting for an official chief to be named.

“I’ll be looking at some of the operational procedures and policies so that we can still be moving forward until an official appointment has been made,” he said. “We’re not just going to mark our time while waiting on a new chief.”

Johnston spoke very highly of the members of St. Cloud’s fire department.

“I think it’s a great department,” he said. “We have some of the brightest and best people in Central Florida.”

Johnston and his wife of nearly 25 years, Ellen, live just outside St. Cloud. They have three children, Christopher, 28, Christian, 13, and Rayna, 12.

“I have mixed emotions because I have a great respect for Chief Lewis,” Johnston’s wife Ellen said. “It has been a privilege for my husband to have Chief Charlie as his leader. I am sad to see him leave the department. On the other hand, I am excited for my husband to have this opportunity to be the acting fire chief of St. Cloud.”

Johnston has been a member of the fire department since 1983. He rose through the ranks, beginning as a volunteer and working his way up.

During his career with St. Cloud Fire Rescue, Johnston has managed the fire prevention division, emergency medical services division and now oversees emergency management for the city.

Johnston has a bachelor’s degree in organizational studies from Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, with a minor in public administration.