Procession for late Conover Fire engineer Ricky Allen scheduled for Thursday

CONOVER, N.C. — A procession for Conover Fire Department Engineer Ricky Allen will be on Thursday and the public is invited to attend along the route.

Allen died from cancer on Saturday, the department said.

“We ask that you keep Ricky’s wife, daughters, and entire family in your prayers, as the members of Conover fire, who lost a brother, a teammate, and a friend,” the City of Conover said in a Facebook post.

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Channel 9′s Dave Faherty traveled to the Conover Fire Department Tuesday, where crews were getting a pumper truck ready for the procession Wednesday. They shared photos that ranged from a day Allen helped rescue a cat, to rope training on the side of a building.

Allen had been with Conover Fire since 2004, when he started as a junior firefighter at age 17.

“He was always our calm during the storm,” said Conover Fire Lt. Chris Hicks. “Out of my years with him on my shift, I never seen him get twisted out of shape. He always stayed calm. Matter of fact, he’s calmed me down on a couple of calls. Just a servant’s heart.”

The City of Conover said Allen also worked at the Public Works Department for several years before becoming a full-time firefighter in 2012 and doing what he loved most -- helping others.

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Colleagues said Allen responded to thousands of calls since he was a teenager, and said he’ll be missed. He was just 36 years old and leaves a wife and two young children behind.

“He loved his family,” Capt. Darren Chewning said. “He loved his job and he loved the community.”

Allen’s uniform has been placed outside the funeral home in downtown Conover. Firefighters have been there around the clock since the weekend and will be until the visitation.

Thursday’s procession starts at 4 p.m.

“Your presence along the route can be an impactful way to express gratitude for Engineer Allen’s years of service and dedication to the City of Conover and the community,” the fire department stated.