Dr. Kristina Kreutzer, deputy chief of the Mill Creek (DE) Fire Company and a longtime instructor at the Fire Department Instructors Conference, has passed away.
Information below from her fire company’s Web site:
“After a long battle with cancer, Deputy Chief Dr. Krissy Kreutzer passed away peacefully in her sleep on the evening of March 10th, 2017. For 25 years she was a research scientist for the DuPont Company with numerous patents. A dedicated, intelligent woman she excelled as a PhD graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and went right to work for her new employer.
Her zest for knowledge goes beyond comprehension as she started her fire service career with the Mill Creek Fire Company (MCFC) in July of 2000. With a solid and intense background in chemistry her contribution to the fire service made her one of the most knowledgeable and sought after persons when it came to hazardous materials; and she was extremely proud of it. She knew she was keeping people safe and especially knew how to diffuse a situation. People would say “if anything bad would happen I want to be with Krissy! She knows how to protect us from the bad things”. She would always have a pack of pH paper in her turnout gear ready to deploy in a second.
Soon, she was a Delaware State Fire School instructor teaching courses in Officer and Leadership, HazMat, CPR and EMS. She gravitated to become one of the most sought after presenters in HazMat instruction throughout the country. And she did this on her own time and mostly without receiving a penny for her work. She travelled to Canada and Europe spreading her knowledge on HazMat.
There would be many a night, at station 2 (MCFC), when she would gather up the members and start training in the engine bays. As the training officer for Mill Creek Fire Company, you could always expect to have the best Tuesday night training available.
In the 90 year history of the Mill Creek Fire Company, she was the first female officer holding a chief’s position. And we were certainly proud of her leading us!
Yes, she loved to talk. At the fire company monthly meetings we would try to limit her report to three minutes, but it did not work. She would walk away hiding the microphone chuckling as she continued talking. Knowledge was key and everyone listened.
Her closest friends were beside her constantly during her declining weeks, taking care of her four parrots and her new friend, a four year old greyhound rescue named Titan. She knew her life was coming to a close and she wanted us to promise her we would keep the faith and continue to be the best as first responders.
She will be sorely missed by so many people. Rest in peace Krissy. We love you and we will always remember your contribution to science, the fire service, hazardous material response and emergency medical services!
Funeral services will be on Saturday March 25, 2017 at the Mill Creek Fire Company Chambers Memorial Hall located at 3900 Kirkwood Highway, Marshallton, DE 19808. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Memorial service will begin at 11:00 AM. Funeral procession to follow memorial service. The Mill Creek Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will serve lunch upon completion of the funeral procession. Rite of Committal will be private.
This will be a firefighter’s funeral. Fire companies wishing to participate in the funeral procession please contact us by email at president@millcreekfire.org“
Kreutzer was a research chemist with DuPont, where she was an assistant chief with the site emergency response team, and the deputy chief of the Mill Creek (DE) Fire Company. She obtained her BS degree in chemistry from the University of Maryland and a PhD in chemistry from the MIT. She was an instructor at the Delaware State Fire School.
The staff of Fire Engineering and the Pennwell Fire Group sends our condolences and prayers to all those affected by this loss.
