“It’s like your second home,” long-time fire chief retires after 35 years in Ringgold

RINGGOLD, Va. ( WFXR ) – For 35 years, Mike Neal has been the fire chief in Ringgold, but last month he said goodbye to that title, but he hasn’t said goodbye to the place he calls his second home.

Mike Neal grew up in the firehouse. His dad, Calvin Neal, was Ringgold’s first fire chief in 1958.

“As we grew up, that’s all we saw was fire trucks,” said Mike Neal, “Daddy and them runnin’ calls. And then when I got old enough, 10, 12, 13, I’m a firehouse brat. Helpin’ mowin’ grass, pullin’ hoses around. Started from there.”

Neal became a firefighter at 16, and just two years later he became the assistant chief. He says the community is the reason he’s stayed for so long.

“Sometimes it feels like your house is a 9-1-1 center. The guy who delivers the newspapers, 4:30 one morning, he’s beatin’ on my door and he said, ‘you’re in the fire department right?’ and I said yeah, he said ‘there’s a field on fire right here below your house!,” said Neal.

Neal said the tight-knit community is also what can make the job harder.

“You know these people, there aren’t many houses I haven’t been into in 55 years,” said Neal, “You run across a lot of people that you’re close to, that you’re trying to do CPR on or their house is burning down. That right there makes it a tougher challenge.

Jacob Adkins, who took over as chief, is grateful to continue the Neals’ legacy.

“The community relates Ringo Fire Department with Mike Neal,” said Jacob Adkins, “It’s a two-one thin, so to see what he’s done for us, it’s really appreciated, and hopefully I can keep it up.”

Neal’s time as fire chief may be over, but his career as a firefighter is far from it. Neal will continue to volunteer with the department.

“it takes a toll on you, I’ve probably been lucky to go as long as I have. But it’s something you can’t just close the door on completely because it’s so much a part of your life,” said Neal.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.