Crafton Hills College Fire Academy

On Tuesday, May 5, Crafton Hills College honored a legacy of courage, service, and perseverance as Margie Orland stood before a new generation of fire academy cadets to present the Michael Orland Memorial Scholarship to Walter Giles.

Michael Orland dedicated his career to mentoring hundreds of academy cadets and firefighters, instilling in them a commitment to service above self. Known for his leadership in fire service and his tireless efforts to raise funds for meaningful causes, Orland left an imprint that extended far beyond the fire line. After his passing in September 2021 at the age of 54, his family ensured that his legacy would endure by establishing a scholarship in his name—one that recognizes cadets who embody the very qualities he lived by: courage, perseverance, tenacity, and humility.

Each year, the Orland family reviews essays from aspiring firefighters, searching not for just achievement but for character. They look for individuals who have faced adversity, who give back to their communities, and who carry a quiet, unwavering determination—a “don’t quit” attitude rooted in selflessness and service to their community.

This year, they found those qualities in Walter Giles.

Congratulations, Cadet Giles! We are so proud of you!

Calling all Roadrunners!!!

Hey Cadets! Help your academy by answering the Roadrunner Roll Call and help reconnect our amazing alumni community! Remember if you’ve taken even one class at Crafton, you’re an alum.

Your academy needs your help! Click the link in our bio!

Update your info
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Invite fellow Roadrunners

Back by popular demand!!!

Academy 114 will be raising funds to assist with the costs of their state firefighter certificates.

Please join us on Saturday, April 4th from 8am to 2pm at the Waba Grill parking lot to get your car looking Spring Clean!

Can’t make it but want to support the next generation of first responders? You can also scan the QR code to donate.

Crafton Hills Fire Academy and Paramedic Program are proud to celebrate two of our outstanding alumni who have successfully completed probation and officially earned their badges with the .

This milestone represents months of dedication, training, and perseverance, as well as the nearly two years of coursework while enrolled in our programs. We could not be more@proud of their accomplishments, and watching our graduates grow from students into professional firefighters serving local communities is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

Our programs are fortunate to have a longstanding partner with the Redlands Fire Department, and we are incredibly grateful for the continued collaboration and support they provide to our students. Partnerships like this allow us to prepare the next generation of fire service professionals while strengthening the departments that serve local communities.

Congratulations to Firefighter Paramedic Uden and Firefighter Paramedic Howes! May you have long and healthy careers serving in the Redlands Way. 💚💛💚

Curriculum was ELECTRIFYING for the cadets of 114 today!

Thank you to CJ Hamilton for providing an excellent lesson in electrical safety awareness to another class of cadets! You are appreciated, sir!

Great news! The Fire Tech Club has been rekindled!!!!!!!

Go check them out at Club Rush, happening now!

Thank you for capturing the Crafton Hills College Public Safety Training Center in the dawn this morning.

Those are some pink skies!

We are HIRING for the position of CTE specialist in the Fire Technology Department! This is a full time classified position that performs the full range of administrative and secretarial duties associated with the Fire Academy and Fire Tech programs. Click the link in our profile to learn more and apply!

Academy 113 has now completed the 2 week wildland block of the academy. A special thanks to our expert instructional staff, Captain Drew Smith, and members of for sharing their expertise in wildland firefighting with these cadets. We appreciate you!