ALAMOSA — According to Alamosa City Manager Heather Sanchez, Alamosa Fire Department (AFD) Fire Chief Bill Stone has notified the city of his intention to move back to his home state of Idaho, at which time he will submit his resignation from his position.

The exact date of that resignation is yet to be determined, as it is dependent upon several factors. First, Stone plans to sell his house, “which could take anywhere from four months to a year.” The second factor involves the city hiring a new fire chief.

“[Chief Stone] plans to be here in Alamosa until the new chief starts so that there are not any bumps in the process,” Sanchez told the Courier. 

Stone was hired as AFD’s Fire Chief on Oct. 17, 2022, following the resignation of former AFD Fire Chief Don Chapman who retired after 17 years in the department.

Before coming to Alamosa, Stone’s firefighting career spanned over two decades, starting as a firefighter in Boise, Idaho from April 1,1991 to April 13, 2012. Stone left that job to take an administrative position as the Division Chief of Training with the Eagle, Idaho Fire Department where he served from April 2012 to June 2017.

Stone was in retirement until 2022 when he accepted a job with Alamosa as the new chief.

He is now setting his sights on returning to the Boise area. “We've got three daughters in two different parts of the country, one who just got accepted into Law School at the University of Cincinnati,” he says. “So, we anticipate a lot of travel in the near future. I will be back on the many rivers that flow throughout the area and will once again enjoy watching my wife, Kelli, who is a two-time All-American, doing what she does best, coaching basketball.”

During his tenure, Stone had several programs that he wanted to introduce to the Valley. One was the Explorers program, which is completing a successful first year with eight high school students, ages 14-18, who were seeking mentorship, fire experience and a possible vocation choice.

“When they graduate in June,” Stone says, “they may join the Alamosa Fire Department or seek a job outside the valley if they so choose. It's a positive way to impact our youth.”

Stone’s other goal was the creation of a Fire Science degree program through both Adams State and Trinidad State College. “The Adams State/Trinidad College degree program is being built and hopefully will be available in the near future,” he says. “There is much work ahead, but it does look promising.”

Stone went on to reflect on his time in Alamosa. “I must say, I have never worked for a better City Manager, Mayor or staff of individuals in all of my years. I'd like to thank all who have made this an enjoyable experience.”

“I've greatly enjoyed working with Chief Stone,” Sanchez told the Valley Courier, “and I feel he has brought a lot to the department.” She further stated the city is not planning on advertising for the position until Stone sells his house.