Crafton Hills Receives New Fire Engine to Supplement Fire Training

By: Donna Hoffman

Community Writer

Photo Courtesy of:

Donna Hoffman

Photo Description:

Michelle Riggs, Director of Resource Development, Chief Mile Costello, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, June Yamamoto, Dean of Career Education & Human Development, Dr. Cheryl Marshall, CHC President, and Chief Mike Alder, CHC Fire Academy stand in front of the 1992 fire engine donated by Rancho Cucamonga to Crafton Hills College.
The Ranch Cucamonga Fire Protection District donated a 1992 fire engine to the Crafton Hills College Fire Academy on Wednesday Aug. 26. Chief Mike Costello, a CHC Fire Academy 13 alumnus, brought the engine to the San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center that morning. “I’m so pleased to deliver this truck to Crafton Hills. It was actually my truck at one time,” he said. The CHC Fire Academy is currently holding classes at SBRETC until a new Public Safety & Allied Health building is completed on the Yucaipa campus. In the proposal to donate the engine to Crafton, Chief Costello commented that nearly 50 percent of the city’s current safety personnel have graduated from a Fire Academy at a community college, and many of them attended Crafton Hills. The 25 cadets in CHC Fire Academy 83 thanked Rancho Cucamonga for the donation, as did Crafton Hills College administration. “I’m so pleased to be here for this special event,” said Dr. Cheryl Marshall, president. “Our programs rely on these donations to help us provide the best training possible for our students.” June Yamamoto, dean of Career Education & Human Development, and Michelle Riggs, director of resource development, were also on the grounds to accept the donation and express their gratitude. “Our students learn so much from our simulation equipment,” said Yamamoto. “The hands-on training is very valuable to them as they progress in their careers.”