Crime & Safety
With His Daughter Now By His Side, Cooper Continues to Fight Fires
16-year volunteer cares about helping others.
- Name: Ricky Cooper, 38, is the Deputy Chief of the Montville Township Fire Department. “I’m actually expected to take over as chief come January,” Cooper said. The senior officer positions of the department are voted on by fellow firefighters. “It takes a lot of years of experience. A lot of guys trusting in you. A lot of responsibility on your part to put forth the effort. You have to be elected and have the credentials.” In the volunteer fire department, each senior position requires additional training and certifications.
- What Part of Town: Cooper moved from South Carolina to Montville Township in 1993. He has one daughter, 17, who also serves on the squad as a junior firefighter. This summer his daughter will take her firefighter I course to become a certified firefighter. Once she turns 18 she will be approved to enter burning buildings. “Her grandfather, my former father-in-law, has been a firefighter here for 48 years,” Cooper said.
- Why this squad: Cooper, himself, joined the Montville Township Fire Department in 1995. “In November it will be 16 years,” Cooper noted. He was drawn to fire fighting because he likes “helping people,” he said. “Helping those who can’t help themselves in a time of need.” He also appreciates “the brotherhood. And the camaraderie amongst the guys.”
- Most Rewarding: In addition to camaraderie, Cooper finds that “Saving people’s houses and their things,” is rewarding. “People work hard all their lives accumulating these things,” Cooper explained. “They don’t want to see it all destroyed, by no means.”
- Most Difficult: “Time consuming,” Cooper said without hesitation. “Very time consuming.” Cooper noted that in addition to fighting fires, there are classes, paperwork, and equipment checks which need to be prepared for regularly. He also added: “Those three and four o’clock calls. Getting up in the middle of the night is a little difficult. You just want to roll over and go back to sleep. But, you think, ‘Somebody’s in dire straits, maybe.’ So, you get up and you head on out.” Cooper finds this scenario particularly difficult when it is a work night and he has to, “come home, take a shower, and go to work.”
- Favorite Thing about Montville Township: “Quiet. Very quiet,” Cooper said of Montville Township. He also added, “The school system is great here. The people are very friendly here.”
- Career: Cooper runs a printing press for a printing company. “I’ve been in the business a long time,” he said. Cooper finds that his boss is understanding of fire department needs, and provides him time off for certification and training. However, Cooper’s job is not one that he can easily leave if a call comes in during work hours. When that happens, he makes up for the time he missed helping with the fire, after work, by readying equipment for its next use.”
- Hobbies: “I’m not very good at it, but golf,” Cooper said. The firefighter also enjoys cooking. “Believe it or not. You name it, I can cook it.” Cooper was one of three brothers raised by a working mom. “So, I had to help out,” he explained. “You picked up a lot.” While it is difficult for him to choose, Cooper’s favorite recipes include penne ala vodka with chicken and fried chicken. “I can cook Italian, or I can fry chicken. I’m from the South, we fry everything.”
- Want Others to Know About Squad: “Volunteers are always welcome. And needed,” Cooper explained.
- Philosophy: “Live it to the fullest cause you only get one time here.”
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