June 28, 1977

Woman rejected as firefighter

       Pat McDaniel always wanted to be a fireman.  But her hopes were shattered this month when the White River Township Volunteer Fire Department in Johnson County voted, 11-6, to keep her off the permanent squad.  “If I’d been a little boy nobody would have thought anything of my wanting to be a fireman,” Mrs. McDaniel, says.  The fact she is a woman she feels, may have played a part in the recent secret ballot vote and customary review by her fellow fire fighters.  It took the Greenwood native three years to gain probationary status on the township squad.  Her first application met with an immediate rejection in 1974.  She was nixed again in 1975 and not until June of 1976 did the fire fighters vote, 9-7, to permit her the traditional one-year trail period on the force.  During that year, she went on more that 250 fires or rescue runs as the only woman on the force.  In May, Mrs. McDaniel reported that she made more rescues than any other member.  “During the summer, I often did more than the men,” she contends.  “I could run pumps, rescue, give first aid, and drive all the trucks.  I’m only 4 feet 10 and my height limited me on certain things.  But there was at no time anything I couldn’t do,” she says.  Mrs. McDaniel also has acquired extensive training in fire and first-aid skills.  She is now studying to become a certified second-class fire fighter and, before joining the squad a year ago, she attended a fire school conducted by the Wayne Township Fire Department.  To date, she is the only person ever to receive a perfect score on the department’s achievement test.  She also has completed 81 class hours and advanced first aid courses in order to become a certified emergency medical technician.  “Firefighting is dirty, hard and dangerous,” Mrs. McDaniel explains.  “But I feel like I have been doing something challenging.”  Mrs. McDaniel’s interest is not a new one.  Her father and brother have been firemen and her husband is fire inspector for White River Township.  “When I was a child, firemen were heroes to me,” she says.  “When the women’s movement came along, it gave me the hope that I had a chance, too.”  Mrs. McDaniel admits she’s not sure what the exact reason was for her rejection.  “It wasn’t strictly because I was female,” she says.  “That definitely entered into a few considerations while many were sympathetic.”  But ever since Mrs. McDaniel talked to a reporter for The Franklin Daily Journal, newspaper in Johnson County, she says her fellow fire fighters have not been as understanding.  Two went to the newspaper to insist the rejection was not because of her sex and an anonymous letter to the editor insists “the results were the beliefs of the 11 men that she could not make it as a fireman.”

         Fire Chief Robert K. Wehrman has refused to comment on the matter.  “I think its best that it’s all dropped,” he said.  One of the volunteer’s wives, however, called The Indianapolis News to give what she called “the other side” of the story.  “The whole thing has gotten out of hand,” said Mrs. Robert Young, and the “whole story’s not been told.  I’m all for woman’s lib, but if you can’t do the job, you shouldn’t be on the force.”  According to Mrs. Young, Mrs. McDaniel “can’t pull the hose and can’t climb a ladder with all her gear on.”  Mrs. McDaniel recently requested spots with the Greenwood and Perry Township volunteer fire departments.  Both have residency requirements which she cannot fulfill, however.  So, for the time being, the housewife and mother of two is not sure what to do.  At this point, she thinks she may reapply for a second probationary period with the squad.  “I may wait a couple of months and put in my application again,” Mrs. McDaniel says.  “I’ve got nothing to lose.”
 
 

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