A southwest Washington fire district swore in Kristan Maurer as its first female fire chief Tuesday night.
Maurer grew up in Houston, Texas. Her family moved to Washington, where she went to Battle Ground High School. It was during a four-year paramedic program at Central Washington University where she first rode along with fire departments.
“I realized that I could be a paramedic and a firefighter, and both were really exciting to me,” Maurer said. “I got lucky. I kind of fell into it and fell in love with it.”
Maurer started working at Clark County Fire District 6 at age 25 as a firefighter. She’s always been working toward an administrative role, she said.
“I realized that I could really make a difference in a department and in a community by moving into the administrative ranks,” Maurer said. “And so that’s where I saw myself progressing. I didn’t know if I’d ever get the chief spot, but I’m really honored that I did.”