Pryor steps down from Fire Service

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Neal Pryor, a member of the Warren County Fire Service, who says he has spent most of his adult life serving the community, plans to step back from duty to spend more time with his family — and still recommends the job to anyone looking to serve.

“I joined at 18 years old, and I left when I was 20, returned at 22, and I’m now 30,” Pryor said in an interview. His years on the force have taught him lessons about leadership and people, he said. “I learned a lot about fire community leadership, good people, bad people.”

Pryor, who confirmed he is the first in his family to join the fire service, has become a mentor to younger firefighters. “I guess, because I like to do things the right way, and I just want to prepare the people under me to continue to do the job great,” he said.

He and his wife are expecting a daughter in June, and family time was a major reason for his decision to scale back. “Stick with it. Give me some time and spend some time with my family,” Pryor told fellow firefighters.

Asked whether he would recommend joining the fire service, Pryor’s answer was emphatic. “Absolutely,” he said, calling firefighting “the best way to serve your community.”

An old photo — a black-and-white image of someone in what appears to be a fire helmet — prompted questions about his history with the department. Pryor laughed it off and said he has been proud to serve and to pass along the standards he learned. His combination of experience, mentorship, and commitment to family marks him as a familiar figure in Vicksburg’s fire ranks as he transitions to the next chapter.