October 19, 1984

Pat near top of fire ladder

       Pat McDaniel may be short, but she ands tall in the ranks at the White River Township Volunteer Fire Department in Johnson County.  Mrs. McDaniel, 5 feet 4, is the department’s assistant fire chief.  “I’ve come a long way in the last 10 years,” she said as she pulled on her white helmet a symbol of her rank.  “Ten years ago the members of this department wouldn’t even consider my application.”  “I’m not a women’s libber,” she said. “I just wanted the opportunity give my spare time to my community.”  Mrs. McDaniel’s community spirit and ambition to become a firefighter stems from her childhood.  Her father, Bill Bentley, was the first chief of the Castleton Volunteer fire Department in Marion County.  Her husband, David, was a member of the Castleton department before moving to White River Township about 11 years ago.  He is presently the White River department’s fire investigator.  A brother, Fred Bentley, is a lieutenant on the Washington Township Fire Department in Marion County.  Mrs. McDaniel, the Johnson County Red Cross director, starting applying for a position as a volunteer fire fighter in 1974.  After the third application, she was finally accepted as a probationary firefighter in June of 1976.  During her first year as a department member, she responded to more than 200 fire and rescue runs.  After her first year, Mrs. McDaniel applied for full membership.  Her application was rejected.
“I was somewhat bitter,” said Mrs. McDaniel. “But, I kept trying.  I re-submitted my application every six months.”  In November of 1978, the membership voted her on as a probationary firefighter a second time and in 1979 she was appointed a permanent member of the department.  “I just had to wait until some of the men on the department who didn’t want me left,” she said. “Most either just resigned or moved out of the fire district.”  A state certified first class firefighter, she holds master certificates in firefighting tactics, fire prevention and administration.  She also is an instructor.  Last December she was nominated for assistant chief along with two other fire fighters at the department’s annual elections.  Of the three, Bob Henry was elected.  Her elevation to assistant chief came about in September when Fire Chief Steve Shelton resigned and moved from the area. Henry was elected fire chief.  Mrs. McDaniel, a lieutenant, and Howard Bennis were nominated for assistant chief. She was elected to finish out the term.  “I don’t know how long I will be the assistant chief,” said Mrs. McDaniel.  We will have elections again next month.”  Her duties include filling out monthly fire reports, filing firefighter insurance claims and insurance claims for fire runs. In the absence of the fire chief, Mrs. McDaniel is in charge of the fire scenes.  “We haven’t had any major fires since I became assistant chief,” she said. “We’ve had a few auto fires and chimney fires.”  The fire department has 17 members, but more volunteers are needed, said Mrs. McDaniel. Three other women have been on the department since Mrs. McDaniel broke the sex barrier in 1976.  Two have left and the third presently is on maternity leave. The department has two pumpers, a tanker and a rescue squad.  The township, with an estimated 5,000 homes and 125 businesses, is reported to be one of the fastest growing residential areas in central Indiana.  The McDaniels have a son and daughter, 19 and 20. Neither is on the fire department.  (Reprinted with permission from the Indianapolis News)

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