By Jackie Martin
The News Herald
ROMULUS, Mich. — It was more than four decades ago that a teenager was introduced to the Brownstown Township Fire Department as a fire cadet, and after he turned 18 years old, he became a member of the then-paid-on-call firefighters.
That ambitious teen was none other than Jeff Drouillard, and the goal-oriented youngster stuck with the department, finally assuming the top position as fire chief.
These days, 43 years later, that teen, now chief of the department, is preparing to officially retire next month.
He has held down a lot of positions in between all of those years.
Drouillard worked as a police fire dispatcher for the township from 1984 to 1987, at which time he took a full-time job as the fire inspector.
In 1993, Drouillard became the fire marshal.
At the time, the inspector and fire marshal positions were one of only two full-time positions within the fire department with the fire chief being the other position.
While working under the direction of four former chiefs, in 1998 Drouillard was named interim fire chief and in 1999 permanent chief as well as fire marshal.
That was a dual position and responsibility that he has held to this day.
After being named permanent chief, he was instrumental in forming an all full-time career fire department after a successful millage was passed by residents.
Drouillard said full-time firefighters began serving the community on Oct. 2, 2000 which allowed the township to staff two fire stations 24/7, and also provided advanced life support services.
It is one of his most notable accomplishments.
The department has grown over his years in command in both member size and professional services.
Today, Drouillard said he heads 33 full-time members.
With him retiring, other moves had to be made within the department to fill vacancies.
Lt. Ryan Raumen has been selected as the new fire chief.
Like Drouillard, he had also been a fire cadet and then later worked as a paid-on-call firefighter with the township.
At one point, he left to pursue a full-time position with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport Fire Department.
After the township converted to full-time status, Ramen was hired back in Brownstown as one of its first full-time members. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2008.
Raumen has worked for the department for 24 years now.
A newly created position of deputy chief was formed within the department and filled by Lt. Dave Zurawski, who was also a member of the paid-on-call department prior to becoming full-time.
He had also worked a short time at the city of Ecorse Fire department.
In October 2000, he was also hired as one of the first full-time members of the department and has now been with the BFD for 24 years.
Due to Drouillard’s retirement and the promotion of Ramen to chief, as well as the promotion of Zurawski to the newly created deputy chief’s position, it was then necessary to promote two sergeants — Robert Campeau, a 14-year veteran, and Jayson Gillman, a 10-year veteran.
They fill the vacant lieutenant positions that Raumen and Zurawski formerly held.
To fill those now vacant sergeant positions, firefighters Chad Behrik and William Carroll, both 12-year veterans, were promoted to sergeants.
They were already on a sergeant’s promotional list.
Throughout Drouillard’s time with the Fire Department, he said he has had the privilege of working alongside dedicated professionals who are committed to serving the community with integrity, courage, and compassion.
“I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together, and I am confident that the department will continue to thrive and uphold its high standards of service,” Drouillard said. “As I prepare for the next phase of my life, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Township Boards that I have worked under, all the many department heads, the Fire Department, and the residents of this community for their unwavering support.
“It has been a privilege to serve, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of the department as well as the overall township in the future.
(c)2024 The News Herald, Southgate, Mich.
Visit The News Herald, Southgate, Mich. at https://www.thenewsherald.com/
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
