Celebrating a Milestone: Riley Gardner Graduates from Arlington County Fire Department

OWL VFD is proud to recognize Firefighter/EMT Riley Gardner on a major accomplishment—his graduation from the Arlington County Fire Department. This achievement marks an exciting new chapter in what has already been an impressive journey of dedication, growth, and service.

Riley first joined OWL as a Junior Member in February 2023, demonstrating early on a strong commitment to the fire and EMS service. Upon turning 18, he transitioned to a Probationary Member in March 2024 and wasted no time continuing to build his skills and experience.

By December 2024, Riley had successfully completed Emergency Vehicle Driver Training (EVDT) I & II and earned his ambulance driver qualification—an important milestone that reflects both technical ability and responsibility. His momentum continued into 2025, when he achieved both his Virginia State EMT-Basic certification and National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) certification in June.

Each step of Riley’s journey reflects a deep commitment to serving others and a willingness to put in the work required to grow in this field. His graduation from the Arlington County Fire Department is a testament to that dedication and the bright future ahead of him in the fire and EMS service.

We are incredibly proud of all that Riley has accomplished and look forward to welcoming him back to active status with OWL following the completion of his probationary period with Arlington.

Please join us in congratulating Firefighter/EMT Riley Gardner on this outstanding achievement.