Acting Danville Fire Chief Don McMasters will lose the ‘acting’ part of that title when the city council meets Tuesday night (March 3, 2020). McMasters has been the Acting Chief since last May. It was the same month that Police Commander Chris Yates was appointed Acting Police Chief. Yates was later appointed Chief of the Danville Police Department. During Tuesday’s Danville City Council meeting McMasters will become Danville’s Fire Chief, complete with the $125-thousand dollar annual salary and benefits that go along with the title.
McMasters has been on the Danville Fire Department for over 24 years. He previously was a volunteer firefighter with the Westville Fire Protection District.
When he was appointed Acting Danville Fire Chief McMasters noted eight new Danville firefighters had just completed their training at the fire academy. He said those new firefighters were going to make a huge difference on manning. McMasters said before they were hired there often were times that firefighters were forced to work extra shifts. He says that took a toll not only on the firefighters but their families, too.
{In the photo Chief McMasters is on the right. Police Chief Chris Yates is on the left.}
