Michael Orland Scholarship

Purpose of the Michael Orland Scholarship

All gifts for this fund will be used to endow the Michael Orland Memorial Scholarship Fund which will provide an annual scholarship for a Crafton Hills College Fire Academy Cadet. 

The endowment distribution is intended to reward a cadet who meets the following criteria:

• Has had to overcome significant challenges in order become a part of the Crafton Hills Fire Academy.
• Will display the necessary courage, perseverance and tenacity that it takes to be a firefighter.
• A demonstrated history of civic mindedness through giving back to their community, volunteering, and being a good person.
• Must possess personal characteristics of selflessness and kindness
  A cadet with a selfless and humble attitude that just won’t quit.
   

 

About Michael Orland

Michael “Mike” Orland was born in Charleston, SC into a US Air Force family.  Mike’s father Burt was a fighter pilot and along with his wife Margie, raised two sons.  As a military family, they lived much of their school-aged lives moving between California, Alaska, and Germany.  Mike graduated high school in Germany in 1985, and then spent eight months traveling to 70 different countries on five continents on a photo expedition with renowned photographer Charles Ellenberger.  

Mike has long had a passion for the outdoors.  He worked for nearly five years in the specialty outdoor sports of rock climbing, wind surfing, skiing, backpacking, hiking. Mike enjoyed helping others experience the joy and thrill of outdoor sports, and also was an instructor for both windsurfing and climbing.  Some consider them hobbies, but to Mike what amount to his many avocations include fly-fishing, woodworking, motorcycles, backpacking, traveling, hiking, poker, SCUBA diving, paragliding, skiing, and rock climbing.  

However, another of Mike’s passions is service to others.  In [year] Mike joined the public safety community.  Mike served with LifeCare Ambulance, Morongo Basin Ambulance, California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CDF), and San Manuel Fire Department as a Paramedic, Firefighter, Engineer, and eventually reached the prestigious rank of Fire Captain.  As a Fire Captain, Mike led a crew on emergency responses which included medical emergencies, rescues, wildland fires, and structural fires.  Mike also served on the San Manuel Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials team as a HazMat Specialist.  Mike is a graduate of the Crafton Hills College Fire Academy (Academy #34) and Paramedic Program (Class #), and possesses an Associate’s degree in Fire Science.

During his career, Mike and his former wife LaRee built a life in Redlands, California and raised two amazing sons Jake and Jared who share much of their father’s zeal for outdoor activities.

In 2017 Mike had been experiencing some pain in his ribs which simply wouldn’t go away.  He initially attributed this to his active lifestyle…falling on a bike ride, or a rough motorcycle ride.  After this pain proved persistent and intractable, Mike went to the doctor and received the news which changed his whole world:  Mike has Stage IV kidney cancer which has spread to his rib, kidney, and several other places in his body.  This is a rare cancer for people like Mike, however, Mike would come to learn that this is one of those cancers which disproportionately impacts firefighters.

Mike continued to work as a Firefighter until he worked his last shift on Christmas Day 2017 so that another Fireman could have the day off with their family.  Throughout 2018, Mike took a medical leave from firefighting, and focused wholly on “kicking cancer’s ass!!!”  Mike had the love and support of his sons, mother, father, as well as his brother and sister firefighters throughout the Inland Empire as he underwent treatment.  One part of that treatment was the removal of right kidney where the cancer had originated.  As he was in the hospital in May of 2017 for this procedure, Mike was cared for by an amazing Nurse named Lisa who helped him with the care, recovery, and emotions of his battle.  As fortune would have it, Mike and Lisa fell in love over the ensuring months.  Their care and love for one another was a transcendent factor in Mike’s battle, and they were married on May 10th, 2018 (true to form, in an outdoor wilderness ceremony).  Their family grew with Lisa’s two sons Trevor and Trent who seemed to have an instant fraternal bond with Mike’s sons Jake and Jared!

In addition to his service for others as a firefighter, Mike has also helped others through his philanthropy!  Just a few examples include when, in 2014, he raised nearly $20,000 by conducting fundraisers for Inland Empire Burn care and prevention, the Childhood Cancer Foundation, and the clothing charity Angel’s Closet.

In 2018, Mike formally retired medically as a Paramedic Fire Captain from the San Manuel Fire Department.  Mike spent the end of his life with his family and as an advocate for firefighter cancer care and prevention.  Mike and his sons became avid dual-sport adventure riders, and frequently spent time together doing this challenging but exhilarating activity.

Captain Orland finished his courageous battle with kidney cancer on Sept 4th, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Crafton Hills College Foundation Mike Orland Fund.