Maria Cardenas obtained her Texas Commission on Fire Protection and EMT-Basic certification in 2012 from Houston Community College. She completed her Associate in Arts degree in 2013 from Houston Community College and is currently enrolled in Texas A&M University-San Antonio to complete her Bachelor in Applied Science with concentration in Fire and Emergency Management Administration.

Lt. Cardenas started her Fire Service career as a volunteer firefighter with West I-10 VFD in February 2012. In May 2014 she became part of the duty crew as a part-time firefighter. She transitioned to Harris County ESD 48 in July 2015 as a part-time firefighter and was promoted to  full-time Fire Suppression Lieutenant in June 2019.

Lt. Cardenas is the only female Fire Suppression officer within the department. She currently holds her TCFP Intermediate Structure Firefighter certification. Other TCFP certifications: Fire Officer I/II, Driver Operator- Pumper and Aerial, Instructor I/II, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Inspector I/II, Fire and Life Safety Educator I/II, Flood Rescue Training Boat Operator, Basic Wildland. Lt. Cardenas has also been certified as an American Heart Association CPR and First Aid Instructor. She is a part of one of the department’s TIFMAS teams for Wildland and All Hazards Structural. She is also responsible as the Lead Quartermaster to ensure every member has the appropriate PPE needed to complete their task. Her main focus is to ensure all members are 100% compliant by following the NFPA 1851 standard.

Lt. Cardenas has been a resident of Katy, TX since September 2004 along with her spouse and two daughters. Lt. Cardenas takes pride in everything she does within the department for the safety of her family and for the best interest of the community.