Courage under fire

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Lieutenant Deanna Matthews is Fishers first female company officer

By Beth Taylor

Lieutenant Deanna Matthews began her career with the Fishers Fire department in May 2000. Fifteen years later, she has the distinction of being the first female company officer to serve the City of Fishers fire department.

As a company officer of Engine 392 A-shift, Lt. Matthews is in charge of a crew of firefighters as well as the fire engine at the historic, newly renovated Fishers Fire Station 92 on 116th St. and Brookschool Rd.

Matthews began her career as a paramedic. “I was working for Wishard Ambulance service in the city of Indianapolis when I began to think about becoming a firefighter. Firefighter pay and benefits are much different. I thought, ‘I’m athletic, I could do that,’” said Matthews. “As I got into it, I realized that it was not at all what I thought firefighting would be—there’s much more to it, a great deal more thinking is involved.”

Unlike many of those who serve on the Fishers Fire Department, Matthews has no family members who are firefighters. “My family thought I was crazy, initially. My mom was beside herself,” said Matthews.

Matthews never thought of being a woman as a disadvantage for a firefighter. “As women, we find different ways of doing things. I don’t have the same upper body strength as the men on my crew, but from early on, I just learned how to do things my way to get things done,” said Matthews. She doesn’t think of her size as limiting, finding it to be an advantage at time. “I may be able to more easily get to a smaller spot than the guys,” she said.

As the company officer, Matthews often expresses a different point of view and thinks of the differences as a positive. “They see something from their standpoint, but I may see it in a different way. It’s good for problem solving aspects of the job.”

The firefighters on her team have become like family. “I do feel a little motherly of the younger guys, maybe a little protective,” she said.

Matthews’ husband, is also a firefighter at another fire station in Fishers. “He’s on a different shift so that we can manage our children’s schedules,” she said. The couple met on the job and have two children together. “We’ve been very open about what we do with the kids and answer questions but avoid details. We don’t want to cause stress, but we do keep them informed. Because I’ve been a firefighter all their lives, they know it as just what I do,” said Matthews.

Captain Chad Abel finds Lt. Matthews to be an asset to the fire department. “She’s just an excellent officer and a true leader, and she cares so much about what she does,” said Abel.

Typical shifts are scheduled for 24 hours on and 48 hours on a rotating three-week schedule, allowing for plenty of family time with her young children. “I have a full-time career, but I also feel like a full time mom because I have the two full 48 hours at home,” said Matthews.

Matthews feels that working for the innovative Fishers Fire department is incomparable to other local community departments. “The team makes an extra effort to make sure that people in your community are taken care of,” she said.

 

About Lt. Deanna Matthews

Age: 41

Resides: Pendleton

Family: Sam, two step children, two children

Hobby: Sew; makes bags and purses

Travel: Japan, tropical areas

Quote: Hard work is going to lead the work. Nobody’s done until everybody’s done. We’re going to work together to get a job done.


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