State of Volunteers
Delaware is a unique state because almost all the fire departments in the state, except for Wilmington, are volunteer fire companies. At Baker's Ace Hardware in Millsboro, Delaware, Owner Bob Riker, his son Jake, and two more Ace employees all serve their community as volunteer firefighters.
"It's really unique that an owner will allow the employees to take off from their job to go serve at a fire company," said John Thorogood, Vice Mayor of Millsboro, Delaware. "That tells you volumes about Bob."
Besides owning and managing his Ace Hardware, Bob also serves as a member of the Georgetown Fire Company and the Millsboro Fire Company. His years of service also include the past positions of Chief of the Georgetown Fire Company, and Fire Commissioner for the State of Delaware. For Bob, it is a lifelong dedication to serving his community through the volunteer fire departments.
"There's a word there that we talk about. It's volunteer. These are folks who are willing to put their lives at risk for nothing," said Brian Calloway, Millsboro Chief of Police. "They give up their weekends off, and their nights away from their families, and they're not getting paid."
Often when an alarm sounds, it is not unusual to see the employees at Baker's Ace Hardware jump into action. Bob's son Jake is the General Manager of the Outdoor Power Equipment Division of Baker's Ace Hardware, and he has been a volunteer firefighter for 19 years. Tyler Rodearmel, Baker's Ace Mechanic, and Connor McGee, Baker's Ace Associate, are two of the younger employees serving as volunteer firefighters. Connor started in the junior firefighter program when he was just 14 years old.
For Bob, his family, and the employees at Baker's Ace, being a volunteer firefighter isn't about bravery or being a hero. It's a sense of duty that runs much deeper.
"One very strong overwhelming character that each firefighter has in this world is that they care," said Bob. "They care about the people that they serve. They care about their community. And they care about their brother and sister firefighters."
