City of Auxvasse fires its fire chief

AUXVASSE, Mo. (KMIZ)

The fire chief of the Auxvasse Fire Department was fired on Thursday, according to a Friday press release from the city and a social media post from the fire department.

A press release from the city stated that Rebecca Stone was “relieved of her duties by a unanimous decision of the city council. The fire chief was the sole individual relieved of their duties; no volunteers were let go.”

The release from the city -- which was sent to ABC 17 News at 2:29 p.m. Friday – said volunteers weren’t fired after a post from the Auxvasse Fire Department claimed that all fire department members were let go.

“On July 11, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. I was relieved of my duties as Fire chief along with all acting members of the Auxvasse City fire department. The station door codes were changed and volunteers were given no notice as to why they no longer had access to life saving equipment,” the post stated.

An ABC 17 News reporter did not see anyone at the fire department on Friday afternoon. City Clerk Missy Hooks told a reporter at the department that no one was in the building. Hooks said she wasn't allowed to disclose why Stone was let go.

A back-and-forth appeared to have occurred on the fire department’s Facebook page between the department page, city officials and residents.

The city’s press release stated “Please follow the official City of Auxvasse, Missouri Facebook page for updates, as the Auxvasse Fire Department Facebook page is not an official channel.”

The release says that the position for the city’s next fire chief will be posted “across multiple platforms.”  The release also says neighboring fire department in Callaway County will “provide mutual aid.”