Andy Neel tapped as assistant AFD chief

**Andy Neel was named assistant chief of the Arkadelphia Fire Department.** | *Courtesy photo*

The Arkadelphia Fire Department on Thursday announced that a longtime firefighter has been promoted to the rank of assistant chief.

Capt. Andy Neel recently filled a position that had been vacant for more than five years. Neel started as a firefighter with the department on July 3, 1998, and has since worked his way up the ranks. He was a lieutenant before being promoted to captain. He has been with the department for 24 years.

“I think it goes without saying, Chief Neel’s promotion was well warranted due to his continuous efforts in and out of the firehouse to not only make our department better but everyone around him better,” Fire Chief Jason Hunt said Thursday afternoon on the fire departments’s Facebook page.