Firefighters often talk about trust. For Khye Montoya, that feeling of trust was familiar long before he stepped onto a fire engine.
The Treasure Valley native spent years on baseball fields, playing at the college level and learning what it meant to rely on teammates. When he arrived at College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Fire Service Technology program, he found something that felt surprisingly similar.
"It reminded me a lot of baseball," Montoya said. "We were all there to achieve the same goal, and everyone was there for each other."
That sense of teamwork helped confirm what Montoya had been working toward for years.
Today, the graduate is completing an internship with Donnelly Fire Department, building on a path that included college baseball, a business degree from Boise State University, emergency medical technician (EMT) training, and a lifelong connection to public service.
Montoya grew up in Meridian in a first responder family. His father worked in law enforcement for 30 years, giving him an early look at a career centered on serving others.
"I always knew I wanted to be in the first responder world somehow," Montoya said.
Still, his path to the fire service took a few turns.
After graduating from Meridian High School, Montoya played baseball at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon, before continuing his athletic career at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. He eventually returned to Idaho and completed a bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Boise State.
While working toward his business degree, Montoya never completely let go of his interest in the fire service.
He had already earned his EMT certification and spent time learning more about the profession through ride-alongs and conversations with firefighters. Still, he was only a few classes away from completing his degree and wanted to finish what he started.
"I was so close to finishing it," he said. "I'd put so much time and money into it that I wanted to finish what I started."
Once he graduated from Boise State, Montoya turned his full attention toward becoming a firefighter. Looking for hands-on training and instruction from experienced fire service professionals, he enrolled in CWI's Fire Service Technology program.
"I had heard great things from previous students," Montoya said. "I knew it would be beneficial for me personally and professionally."
What surprised him most wasn't the physical training. It was the amount of learning that happened after students left the drill ground.
Days spent throwing ladders, pulling hose, and training in live fire environments were often followed by evenings studying chapters, reviewing material, and preparing for the next day's lessons.
"The days didn't really end when you left," Montoya said. "You'd go home and keep studying because you wanted to be prepared."
The workload was demanding, but Montoya quickly found support among classmates and instructors.
Like teammates working toward a baseball championship, students pushed one another through long days, difficult drills, and challenging coursework.
That camaraderie became one of the most memorable parts of the academy.
"There were 18 of us, and we clicked right away," he said.
The support system extended beyond classmates and instructors. Montoya also benefited from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which helped offset the cost of equipment, uniforms, books, and training materials.
"Paying for school out of pocket and then coming to CWI getting that scholarship made a world of a difference,” he said. “It made it so much easier than paying for everything ourselves."
Through the band's All Within My Hands Foundation, CWI has received funding to help Fire Service Technology students access critical equipment and training opportunities while reducing financial barriers for students pursuing careers in the fire service.
The support allowed him to focus more fully on the academy's rigorous training and the opportunities that followed.
After graduating from the fire academy in December 2025, Montoya began an internship with Donnelly Fire Department, where he responds to medical emergencies, fire calls, and wildland incidents while continuing to expand his skills.
He said one of the biggest advantages of the CWI program was arriving to Donnelly prepared.
"It wasn't my first time throwing a ladder or pulling a hose," Montoya said. "CWI gets you involved in everything."
Just as valuable has been the continued mentorship from instructors. Months after graduation, Montoya still reaches out for advice on interviews, testing processes, and career development.
"The relationships don't end when the academy ends," he said. "The instructors are still there helping you. They want to see you succeed, and they've continued to help me even after graduation."
This support has helped him navigate the next steps in his career as opportunities within the fire service continue to emerge.
Today, Montoya holds certifications as an EMT, Firefighter I, and Hazmat Awareness and Hazmat Operations. Yet he still carries training manuals with him and looks for opportunities to learn. That mindset is something he encourages future students to adopt as well.
"Enjoy the process and the relationships you build along the way," he said. "Always show up ready to work and give maximum effort."
For Montoya, the journey to the fire service included college baseball, a business degree, EMT training, and months of intensive academy preparation. Each experience helped prepare him for a profession built on teamwork, accountability, and service.
Montoya's path to the fire service began with a desire to serve his community. Students interested in careers that protect, serve, and support others can learn more through CWI's Public Safety pathway.
