In a male-dominated field, Patty Donovan broke the gender barrier by joining the Boston Fire Department 38 years ago. Boston’s fire department is rich in history. Started in 1678, it was the country’s first publicly-funded, paid department and it was staffed entirely by men.
It was staffed entirely by men until 1984, when 22-year-old Patty Donovan walked into Engine 50 in Charlestown.
“I was the first female on the job in my drill class there were 56 of us,” said Patty Donovan. “Me and 55 men. It was new for everybody, not just for myself.”
Firefighting ran in the family. Her two brothers were in the department and so was her father, until he passed away due a job-related injury. Despite that, Patty thought she would give it a try, knowing she’d be surrounded by men.
“Some people were fine with it and some people wouldn’t even talk to me,” said Donovan. “Everybody’s looking at you, everybody. Whether it’s your coworkers or you go to a fire and people from other stations or just even out in the public.”
But over time, Donovan said the novelty died down. For 24 years, she worked at three different stations, and at each, she worked hard to prove herself and show that she could be relied upon.
“I just liked going out there and helping people and people were appreciative and they liked to see you coming,” said Donovan.
In 2014, the department lost two firefighters in a Beacon Street fire. Working as a fire investigator, Donovan and her coworkers were tasked with finding fallen firefighter Lieutenant Edward Walsh’s wedding ring.
“A couple of hours into it I was just going through it and all of a sudden I spotted a circle and looked at it and picked it up and I literally started shaking,” said Donovan. “I said oh my God I found it, I found the ring.”
Donovan says it was one of the most rewarding moments of her career.
“An awful, awful tragedy it was one glimmer of hope a little bit of light, it was just such a feeling to be able to give that to her (Lt. Walsh’s widow) on behalf of the fire department,” said Donovan.
Throughout the span of her nearly 38 years with the Boston Fire Department, Donovan said there still haven’t been many women that have come through the doors. Even in the most recent class of 90 recruits, there is just one woman.
“There’s about 1500 firefighter on our force, so we’re a little more than one percent,” said Donovan.
She says the 24-hour shifts can make it difficult to raise kids. It’s also a tough job that’s not very glamorous. Despite the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated environment, she stuck with it because she truly loves what she does.
“It’s just something you sort of have to overcome and unfortunately you have to accept it and plays on, and try to prove them wrong basically and you know that you can do it and you’re capable of doing it and that’s it,” said Donovan. “Whether you like it or not, I’m here and I’m going to stay.”
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