Last week the Spokane Valley Fire Department marked its 80th anniversary, a milestone that passed with less fanfare than usual as the region and state grapple with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The department formed as Spokane County Fire Protection District 1 in an age when the Spokane Valley area was known for its small farms and apple orchards. It started with a handful of firefighters and three leased fire engines. The first fire station was little more than a barn.
In 2007 the name was officially changed to the Spokane Valley Fire Department. The department has come far since its early days and now has 10 fire stations and 200 employees who respond to more than 18,000 calls in a year. The department spans Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards and part of unincorporated Spokane County.