The Eagle

Romulus Fire Department celebrates promotion, new marshal

The Romulus Fire Department is celebrating two significant milestones, promoting a longtime lieutenant to the rank of captain and formally welcoming a newly sworn-in fire marshal to the ranks.

Neal Allgood has been promoted from lieutenant to captain, department leaders said, citing Allgood’s sustained leadership, dedication, and service on the fire line. In his new role, Allgood will take on expanded responsibility for leading crews and overseeing operations, continuing a career built on hands-on emergency response experience.

"Captain Allgood has continually demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering service on the line," the department said in the prepared statement. "We are excited to see him step into this new role and continue to lead our crews with excellence."

The promotion adds to the department command structure at a time when the agency has been working to maintain staffing levels and strengthen leadership ranks. The Romulus Fire Department currently operates with roughly two dozen career firefighters, supplemented by part-time and paid-on-call personnel, working out of two stations — Fire Headquarters on Eureka Road and Fire Station 2 on Middlebelt Road. Firefighters are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4126.

The department also officially welcomed Dan Wright as the new city fire marshal. Wright was recently hired and sworn in, taking on responsibility for fire prevention, code enforcement, and fire-safety education throughout the city.

"His expertise and commitment to fire safety, code enforcement, and prevention will be an incredible asset to the department and the citizens we serve," department officials said.

The fire marshal's office plays a central role in inspecting commercial and residential properties for code compliance, investigating fire causes, and educating residents and businesses on prevention — duties that carry added weight in Romulus given the unique city geography. The community covers about 36 square miles, roughly a third of which is occupied by Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, adding a layer of complexity to fire prevention and code enforcement work not found in many neighboring municipalities.

The Romulus Fire Department traces its origins back more than 80 years. It was formally organized in 1940 after a fire destroyed the Romulus Gray Iron Foundry, prompting township leaders under Elmer Johnson to recruit a dozen men to serve under the first fire chief, Joe Crova. The department's first fire truck, a Ford, was purchased in 1941 and initially housed at the local Grange Hall before moving to a garage on Goddard Road in 1943.

Since those early days, the department has grown substantially, now responding to more than 5,000 calls for service each year. It provides all-hazards emergency response along with Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical services, operating multiple state-licensed ALS ambulances. The department is also an active participant in the Western Wayne County Mutual Aid Association, allowing it to share resources with neighboring agencies during larger incidents.

Over the decades, the department has adapted to changing demands, including a 2012 upgrade to the state's 800 MHz communications system and the pursuit of federal FEMA grant funding in recent years to help maintain front-line firefighter staffing.

With Allgood stepping into a broadened leadership role and Wright bringing new expertise to fire prevention efforts, department officials say both additions reflect the agency's ongoing commitment to serving the Romulus community safely and effectively.

"Please join us in congratulating Captain Allgood on his promotion and giving a warm welcome to Fire Marshal Wright," department officials said. "Thank you both for your dedication to keeping our city safe."