Meet Our Crew: Firefighter Ron Montgomery

Six months after getting his first firefighting job, Ron Montgomery went out on his first big call: the Front Street fire in downtown Georgetown.

It’s been pretty quiet since then for Montgomery, 37, a firefighter/EMT with Midway Fire Rescue.

“I’m waiting for (another) big one,” Montgomery said. “Of course I don’t want (anybody’s) property to get damaged. You (become) a fireman to fight fires, you don’t (become) a fireman to think about it.”

Montgomery is a native of Conway and graduated from Conway High School in 1997.

For 10 years, he worked at Coca-Cola before deciding to enroll at Horry-Georgetown Technical College to become an EMT.

“I just love helping people,” Montgomery said.

He worked at a private ambulance company while studying to be an EMT and was hired at Midway in March 2013.

“I love it here,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think I’d ever leave.”

Montgomery doesn’t have a lot of specialized firefighting training, but he is taking several classes and working on the qualifications he needs to be promoted to firefighter II.

He likes both his jobs.

“I actually enjoy patient care but the firefighting is more of a rush and more dangerous,” Montgomery said. “The EMS side is more helping people.”

What’s the best firefighting advice he’s gotten?

“Always try to better yourself and better the people under you,” Montgomery said. “Never quit learning. ... If you ever think you know it all, you’re (kidding) yourself.”

Montgomery lives in Conway with his wife, Ashley, and is father to 10-year-old twins Kaylin and Taylor.

When he’s not working, he’s remodeling his house or watching his daughters play softball.

“I’m pretty much happy,” Montgomery said. “I’m living the dream. ... I’ve got it set right now. There’s nothing I would change.”