After celebrating his 25 years with the Selma Fire Department, Chief Mike Stokes has announced his decision to retire.

Stokes met Monday with Selma Mayor George Evans to tell him of his decision before meeting with the department that afternoon. Stokes will leave Sept. 1 and begin a new chapter in his life.

Stokes started with the department at age 22 in June 1990 and was named battalion chief in 2000. Nine years later, Evans appointed Stokes as chief.

“I’ve been given a great opportunity,” Stokes said. “I honestly believe the Lord has put me in a position to do this.”

Stokes said he would be going to work in the private sector for Burkes Mechanical.

“You get to the end of a book, and when you read the last sentence, you close it, and you pick up another book,” Stokes said. “I’m going to start over in a different career.”

Stokes said the department has meant everything to him over the last 25 years, and it’s going to be a major adjustment to not wake up and head to the fire station every day.

“Over a half of my adult life has been the fire service. It has meant absolutely everything. My entire life involved around the city of Selma and the fire department,” Stokes said. “It’s been fun; it’s been sad. It’s been hard; it’s been easy.”

Evans said he is sad to see Stokes go, but he knows that his new position is a great opportunity.

“He’ll be missed. There’s no question about that,” Evans said. “He’ll be missed by me.”

Evans said Stokes means a lot to the Selma Fire Department and Selma as a whole because of his involvement in the community.

“I’m happy for him and his family,” Evans said. “I wish him the best.”