Fire departments are the latest institution reacting to the continuing population growth across the Tri-Cities.
Pasco and West Richland cemented plans to expand their reach by opening new fire stations during the next few years. Kennewick included plans for expansion in its budget.
The Tri-City metro population topped 290,000 in 2017 and is expected to cross 300,000 this year. It added 6,500 people between 2016 and 2017, roughly the size of a small town.
The growth has pushed developers to find places for new homes as fast as they can. In Pasco, the city is filling in holes throughout the Riverview area, and pushing both north and west along Sandifur Parkway.