Get to know #yourColletonFirefighter Ray Delonge on #firefighterfriday. Lieutenant Delonge is a volunteer assigned to Station 22 serving the Ritter community. Here is more on Lieutenant Delonge.
Ray entered the fire service after faithfully serving in the United States Army as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and as a Combat Engineer. After entering the civilian world, Ray wanted to continue serving others and found himself walking into a fire station. He began his fire career with Mount Pleasant Fire and later went on to join Summerville Fire-Rescue and Charleston Navy Base Fire Department. Ray joined Colleton County Fire Rescue Station 11, formally known as Maple Cane Fire Department, in 1999. His contributions to the department are felt near and far. He is an integral part of the Dive Program, a hobby that he picked up during his time at Fort Bragg. He is known to many in the dive community as the “Underwater Hound Dog”. Ray can be placed in the darkest, debris ridden waters and still find whatever item began his search. In 2023, Ray earned his Divemaster Certification. Ray holds numerous fire certifications and is also a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician. He assists the Training Division with volunteer orientation and monthly volunteer night training. Ray is a full time heavy equipment operator for Robert O Collins Company. As Ray says, “I am just a guy, with a big dozer, in a big sandbox, with an even bigger smile!”
When Ray isn’t moving equipment, transporting equipment around the state, or running calls with Colleton County Fire-Rescue, he can be found on his farm with his wife, Robyn, and his 9 year old, 2400 pound Brahman bull, Beau. Ray loves hunting, being out on the water, and sneaking in a dive or two when he can.
