Las Vegas, N.M. fire department names first female engineer

The Las Vegas Fire Department has named its first female engineer in the department’s 144-year history. Nicole Maes, who joined LVFD in 2022, achieved the engineer position last month.

Maes’ firefighting career began in 2017, after she came across a house on fire while on her way to church. She and her partner worked to put out the flames, and Maes developed her passion for firefighting there.

Maes started with the Sheridan Fire Department in 2017 before joining LVFD in 2022.

As her probationary period comes to an end, Maes hopes to inspire other women to join fire departments.