EASTHAMPTON — Sandra Krauss, an Easthampton firefighter for the past 12 years, will become the Fire Department’s next captain.
“I feel honored and overwhelmed by all the support that people have shown me,” Krauss, 41, said on Thursday. She will be the department’s first female fire captain and was the department’s first woman to serve firefighter.
A swearing-in ceremony will be held at a future date after Fire Captain Steven Kennedy retires at the beginning of May, according to Fire Chief David Mottor. There are a total of five captains in the department.
Mottor said that Krauss is “always open to learning new things, always open to constructive criticism.”
“She is eager, smart and knows no obstacles,” Mottor added.
Krauss is a member of the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team (WMTRT) as well as an instructor for the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
This past November, Krauss was honored for her work with the WMTRT by Gov. Charlie Baker for “heroic acts of bravery” at the annual “Firefighter of the Year” awards ceremony in Worcester. The WMTRT as a group was recognized for its meritorious conduct by the governor and other state officials.
Krauss worked for the American Medical Response ambulance service prior to joining the Easthampton Fire Department.
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com