By Jayson Jaco
Baker City Herald
BAKER CITY, Ore. — William Spriet wasn’t sure if his career would involve listening to people’s problems, or potentially rescuing them from a burning building.
But now, just a few months before he graduates from Baker High School, he does know. His future, Spriet says with a wide smile, “just fell into my lap.” The 18-year-old knew that whatever career he pursued, he had one requirement.
“I just want to help people,” Spriet said.
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He considered psychology. Working with troubled children, maybe. But Spriet said he prefers “hands-on learning” to several years in college classrooms. The price of a degree was daunting, too. Spriet said he thought many years ago about becoming a firefighter and emergency medical technician. But he had no idea how to go about it.
It’s not, he concedes, a common career path for a high school student.
Last fall, as he started his final year at BHS, Spriet said he was leaning toward applying at the University of Idaho to study psychology. He figured he would exhaust his savings account in the first year alone.But then he had a conversation that changed everything.
Spriet was talking with Nicole Sullivan, a career counselor at BHS. They talked about college, and psychology. Then Sullivan asked him if any other careers intrigued him.
When Spriet answered that he had considered trying to become a firefighter, Sullivan’s response was immediate.
She told him about a new program that Baker City Fire Chief Michael Carlson, who was hired in April 2025, was unveiling.
Soon after, Spriet attended a meeting Carlson set up at BHS to tell students about the new fire cadet program.
And Spriet just knew.
“I thought this is a really cool opportunity, and I can’t pass it up,” he said on Wednesday, Feb. 11, just an hour or so before he joined six other cadets at the program’s first graduation ceremony at the fire department.
The other graduates are Camryn Ayer, Lance Downing, Hayden Churchfield, Taylor Peppers, Mathius Madison and Brennan Robinson. After finishing the cadet training, which took place on weekends starting in early January, Spriet no longer wondered about his career.
“I am definitely going to be a firefighter,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m just excited to get to live my dream.” And relieved that he no longer needs to worry so much about his future. “I’ve been stressing about it for years,” Spriet said.
The details of the years to come remain a bit uncertain.
Spriet, who competes in the pole vault for Baker’s track and field team, said he would consider attending Eastern Oregon University if he was offered a spot on the Mountaineers’ squad. But his ultimate goal is to earn certifications both as a firefighter and an EMT.
Many fire departments, including Baker City’s, are dual-role agencies, handling both fires and medical calls. Spriet said that once he is dual-certified, he could potentially work almost anywhere. Including, perhaps, in his hometown.
“I could see myself working here if I had the chance,” Spriet said. One of his favorite parts of the cadet program was seeing the bonds, both professional and personal, that firefighters forge. “That’s your home,” Spriet said. “You’re living with these people for two days straight (firefighters generally work a schedule of 48 hours on duty, followed by 72 hours off). That sense of togetherness is really appealing to me.”
Carlson plans to continue the cadet program, and Spriet encourages teenagers to consider joining. The program is open to ages 14 through 19.
“It was an amazing experience,” Spriet said.
He said he enjoyed learning about firefighting, as well as the physical challenges of pulling heavy fire hoses around and moving dummies to simulate working with real patients in emergency situations.
Fire chief excited about cadet program
Carlson shares Spriet’s enthusiasm about the first class of cadets.
“It went smoother than I anticipated,” Carlson said. “A lot of it has to do with the cadets themselves. They were highly motivated, with a thirst for knowledge.”
During the program, which lasts for four to six weeks, cadets learn skills such as how to put on turnouts (firefighters’ specialized clothing and equipment) and using a radio. “The basic skills that every firefighter knows,” Carlson said. Students who graduate and officially become cadets will meet twice a month, on every other Wednesday, for more training. Younger cadets, ages 14 and 15, will focus on classroom lessons covering a variety of topics, Carlson said.
Cadets 16 and older can accompany firefighters on actual calls, serving primarily as observers. Carlson said cadets will be assigned to safe tasks such as setting up warning tape to keep people away from fires, and handing out water bottles to firefighters.
“There won’t be any danger,” he said.
Spriet said he’s excited about his first ride-along with a fire crew.
At age 16, cadets are eligible to start work on a “task book” — a list of skills that all firefighters must complete to become certified in Oregon , Carlson said. Cadets also learn skills required to become a certified EMT. The first step, attainable at age 16, is a certified emergency medical responder, Carlson said. He said most fire departments are looking for workers who are certified as firefighters and EMTs.
Carlson said his ultimate goal is to help cadets gain the skills they need to become certified firefighters and EMTs at age 18, the minimum age that Oregon allows. The program also will give cadets chances for community service — staffing public information booths at Miners Jubilee and other events, for instance, or helping with blood pressure clinics at the Senior Center.
Cadets 16 and older will be able to earn “ride-along” time with firefighters based on the number of community service hours they contribute, Carlson said. For younger cadets, he intends to award a helmet to the one with the most service hours, and a custom radio strap for the runner-up.
Leadership
In addition to gaining skills, cadets will have a chance to become more confident leaders, Carlson said.
One cadet will serve as chief of the program, and others will oversee a smaller group of cadets.
“I want to give them the leadership abilities,” Carlson said.
Even if cadets decide they’re not interested in a firefighting career, they can hone skills, including undergoing an interview, that will help them regardless of their career path, he said. Carlson said he would like to enroll a new class of cadets each year. In the end, though, the program’s success will depend on how eager cadets are, and how dedicated to taking advantage of the opportunity, he said.
“It’s all going to be up to the students to make the program what they want it to be,” Carlson said.
He hopes to schedule the second cadet training program for October 2026 .
More information is available by calling the fire department at 541-523-3711.
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