By Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers, 377 Public Affairs / Published March 18, 2020
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, poses in front of a firetruck, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya is one of only five female firefighters that works on Kirtland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, carries a hotel pack up stairs during an exercise, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya trained for a structural exercise reverse lay that included running up three flights of stairs with a hotel pack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Kirtland Air Force Base firefighters prepare to conduct a training exercise, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The exercise allowed the team to train together and practice a structural exercise reverse lay that included running up three flights of stairs with a hotel pack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, front, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, and her team wash the firetruck for the next shift, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya is one of only five female firefighters that works on Kirtland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, retrieves her protective gear from her locker, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. At the start of her shift, Montoya prepared her gear to stow away in the truck to be readily assessable. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, pulls the water hose from the back of the firetruck, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya trained for a structural exercise reverse lay that included running up three flights of stairs with her gear. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Kirtland Air Force Base firefighters prepare to conduct a training exercise, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The exercise included running up three flights of stairs with their gear as quickly as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, carries her gear during an exercise, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The gear weighs about 65 pounds and had to be carried up three flights of stairs as quickly as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, tests radio equipment at the start of her shift, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. A truck inspection includes checking the trucks fluids, oil and transmission along with testing the lights, sirens and radio. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, right, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, and Josh Grohe, left, driver and operator, Kirtland Air Force Base, inspect the firetrucks supplies, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. During the inspection, all compartments are checked to ensure they coordinate with the inventory sheet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, climbs up the ladder to inspect the roof of the truck, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Each day, the firefighters do a walk-through of the firetruck to be sure it is stocked and prepared for emergency response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelynn Montoya, right, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, and fellow firefighters listen to their daily briefing, March 12, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya is one of only five female firefighters that works on Kirtland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, operates the water pump to ensure it is working properly, March 11, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Each day, the firefighters do a walk-through of the firetruck to be sure it is stocked and prepared for emergency response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelyn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, sits in her firetruck, March 11, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya is one of only five female firefighters that works on Kirtland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelynn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, demonstrates putting on her protective gear, March 11, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Montoya worked as a wildland firefighter before graduating KAFB Fire and Emergency Services training academy in 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)
Katelynn Montoya, firefighter, Kirtland Air Force Base, dons her protective gear, March 11, 2020, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. When fully geared up, the ensemble weighs about 45 pounds with the self-contained breathing apparatus air pack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers)