Carson Baker always had a strong interest in public service. After earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and initially pursuing a path in law enforcement, he found himself drawn to firefighting. That interest turned into action when he enrolled in the College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Fire Service Technology program. Now an alumnus, Baker is celebrating the milestone of being hired full-time at Donnelly Fire Department — an achievement fueled by hard work, mentorship, and support from the Metallica Scholars Initiative.
“I enjoyed law enforcement but decided that, if I was able to get into CWI, I’d join the Fire Service Technology program,” said Baker. “I was accepted, and I’ve loved every part of becoming a firefighter.”
Baker is one of several CWI students who received support through a $75,000 grant awarded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation as part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. The program is designed to support workforce education across the country by removing financial barriers and helping students access essential training and equipment. For Baker, that support arrived at a pivotal moment.
“The Metallica Scholarship was a massive help during my internship,” he said. “It allowed me to stay out of debt and not have to take out a loan to pay for my turnouts. That allowed me to focus solely on the skills and knowledge that I needed to learn at my internship and ultimately allowed me to be hired full-time at a department.”
The scholarship funding was used to cover key expenses like breathing equipment, gear rental, and training materials. “The grant from All Within My Hands has gone to funding the purchase of equipment called self-contained breathing apparatuses (SBAs), which the students use when they are assigned to a local department,” said Darrin Raskopf, Director of the Fire Service Program at CWI. “They’re going to spend an average of a 24-hour shift every week for 52 weeks. It’s a lot of hours.”
“SBAs are one of the most important pieces of equipment that a firefighter has,” Raskopf continued. “That’s what allows us to go into the fires. Each air pack is anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000, which is a lot for students to pay for out of pocket. This grant has allowed us to purchase an additional cache of SBAs that students can use as they continue on-site training.”
CWI’s partnership with local departments, including Donnelly Fire, plays a critical role in helping students move from the classroom into their careers. “Students entering the Work Experience program at a fire station need total focus, and knowing they have the right equipment is a big part of that,” said Kelsey Backen, Division Chief of Training Operations. “This grant will help them have what they need to contribute to the department and have a stronger future in the profession of firefighting.”
Baker credits the instructors in the program for preparing him for that transition and inspiring him along the way. “The instructors’ love for the job is very evident and it flows into their passion for teaching,” he said. “They constantly talk about how all the work they put into getting hired was worth it. That’s what kept me working hard.”
His classmates were equally motivating. “I would look around at who I was working with and think — these are people I’d trust with my life,” he added.
Gordon Jones, President of the College of Western Idaho, sees the impact of support like this reaching far beyond the classroom. “These funds will be used to acquire crucial equipment for our students to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field, preparing for careers as firefighters,” he said. “Our Fire Service Technology program is more than just a path to a career — it’s a call to protect and serve our community.”
Now fully certified and employed in the profession, Baker is proud of how far he’s come. “It has taken two years of hard work to place myself into a position where I could get hired and fully pursue the fire service,” he said.
As for what he would say to Metallica? “That money is being used well and is making the impact on people’s lives that they would want it to. While it is one step in a journey, things like the grant do make an impact on a person’s success in the fire service.”
Ready to become a firefighter? Get hands-on training and real-world experience with CWI’s Fire Service Technology program.
