SVFD News

Call for Pro and Con Committee to Review Levy

11/29/22

Pro and Con Committees Spokane Valley Fire Department is placing before the voters on the February 14, 2023 ballot a proposition authorizing a maintenance and operations excess levy.

Do you know what a Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Levy is?

11/23/22

How does a Fire District get its funding for Maintenance and Operations (M&O)? Junior taxing Fire Districts must go out for Levies every 4 years...

Winter Is Coming

10/25/22

Now is the time to prepare your home to be fire safe. More fires happen in the winter months than any other time of the year. During the cold...

CHECKING IN WITH THE SVFD PREVENTION DIVISION

Apr 20, 2020

To reduce the number of emergencies in the community, Spokane Valley Fire Department has a team of professionals focused on preventing fires and other dangers that threaten human lives and our surroundings.

Led by Fire Marshal Greg Rogers, the Prevention team is based out of the SVFD Administration building (currently closed to the public due to COVID-19) and works behind-the-scenes to identify, minimize, and eliminate hazards, as well as to educate and enforce safety regulations. The Prevention team continues their essential work during the COVID-19 stay-home order, but with social distancing and other safety protocols.

The office is temporarily closed to in-person visits or the dropping off of permit request forms and payments, but the Prevention team can be reached by email and phone: write to inspections@spokanevalleyfire.com or leave a message on the Inspections Request Line at 509-892-4153.

Here are some of the functions of the Prevention team:

Operational Permits and Inspections: Commercial businesses may be required to apply for and maintain Operational permits that demonstrate safe practices and code compliance, such as a permit for a CO2 system or an upcoming event. Read about Operational permits here.
Plan Reviews: The Fire Protection Engineer reviews plans for buildings, sprinkler/alarm systems, etc. Electronic plan submittal is strongly encouraged because it saves time and trees. Because this work is currently happening off-site, the review of paper plans is delayed.
Community Risk Reduction: While educational presentations and visits to homes, schools, health fairs and other organizations are paused, the CRR specialist is ready to answer questions. Common questions are about smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Also, check the SVFD Facebook page for fire safety lessons for kids every weekday at 10am.
Fire inspections: After a fire, inspectors work to identify the cause. Need a report about a time SVFD was called to a fire or other emergency? Request for Public Records form.
Information about fire prevention and regulations. Please email or call with your questions. Check out: Burning Do’s and Don’ts and Fire Hazard Complaint Form.

Contact SVFD Prevention:

inspections@spokanevalleyfire.com
Inspections Request Line at 509-892-4153
(leave message)

Mail paperwork or payments to:

Spokane Valley Fire Department
2120 N. Wilbur Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Attn: Prevention

(Make checks payable to “SVFD.”)

← MANAGING YOUR HEALTH AT HOME COUNTRY FINANCIAL DONATES $2500.00 FOR THE PURCHASE OF UV CLEANERS →

Did you Know?

You can sign up for a station tour. Great for small groups.

You should replace the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year.

Creating a defensible space with regards to wildfires could just save your home or property.

We have Friends & Family CPR classes every month.

Media Contact

Julie Happy

509-892-4155

happyj@spokanevalleyfire.com

Commissioner Patrick Burch

Board Member Since: July 18, 2016
Current term expires: December 31, 2025

Commissioner Burch was appointed to the Board of Fire Commissioners in July 2016 to fill an unexpired term and has served continuously since that time. He became a volunteer member of the Department’s CERT Team in 2008 and later served as a team leader/member of Fire Corps.

“I admire the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s focus on continuous improvement. Our dedication to the community, fiscal responsibility and the fact that we are one of the few accredited fire departments in the State of Washington all make SVFD great!”

Note: As the individual appointed to this non-partisan position, Commissioner Burch was elected by voters in November 2017.

Commissioner Mike Kester

Board Member Since: January 1, 2020
Current six year term expires: December 31, 2025

Commissioner Mike Kester was elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners in November, 2019.

Commissioner Kester grew up in the Spokane area and has a deep appreciation for just how fortunate we all are to live in this beautiful area. He believes that being involved in this community is not something to take lightly.

His background includes joining the United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G) after high school and serving on a port firefighting boat doing search and rescue in Portland, Oregon. After the Coast Guard, he attended the University of Montana earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Resource Management. He then went on to work for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, serving in their Parks Department.

Spokane was the next step in his career. He went to work for the Burlington Santa Fe Railroad and the next 22 years was spent as a conductor moving freight. Commissioner Kester retired in 2010 after a workplace injury and now, he and his wife enjoy making meals for World War II Veterans, helping out at the YMCA ,and providing meals for those in need.

“In the 25 years of being a resident of the Spokane Valley the professionalism of the SVFD has inspired me to take an active part in bettering our community. We have one of the best fire departments in the whole Pacific Northwest. My wife and I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. I have dedicated my life to keeping them safe. I want to apply that dedication to our community. Keeping us all safe is a goal we should all aspire to in one way or another. Communication within the department and with the public is, and always will be one of my primary goals.”

Commissioner John Guarisco

Board Member since: August 27, 2018
Current six year term expires: December 31, 2027

Commissioner Guarisco was appointed to the Board of Fire Commissioners in August 2018 to fill an unexpired term and has served continuously since that time. Commissioner Guarisco founded Marjoni Marketing in 2004 and in 2010 merged with MDI marketing. He then pursued Real Estate, earning his license and now, currently serves the greater Spokane area as a licensed Realtor. He has long been active in the community and has won numerous awards during his career including the Volunteer of the Year (2014) and the Community Caring Award (2010) from the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Greater Spokane Valley Rotary Club and holds an AA degree from Spokane Falls Community College.

Note: As the individual appointed to this non-partisan position, Commissioner Guarisco was elected by voters in November 2019.

Commissioner Bill Anderson

Board Member since: January 1, 2000
Current six year term expires: December 31, 2023

Commissioner Anderson served our community as a Spokane Valley Fire Department firefighter for 29 years. Throughout his career, he worked as a firefighter, dispatcher and engineer before he was promoted and became an officer. He was Station Captain of Millwood Station 2 when he retired in 1999. During his years as firefighter, he was an active leader of Spokane Valley Firefighters Local 876 and served as a trustee on the Washington State Council of Firefighters for 25 years.

“It’s important to me that we continue the good service we’ve always given the people. We’ve accomplished a lot and are pulling in the same direction to get better. I’m very proud of the Spokane Valley Fire Department.”

Commissioner Brian Asmus

Board Member Since: June 14, 2021
Current term expires:

Commissioner Brian Asmus was appointed to the Spokane Valley Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners in 2021.

Commissioner Asmus is the former Liberty Lake Police Chief and current Director of Safety and Security at Central Valley School District (CVSD).

“Brian Asmus brings extensive Public Safety leadership experience, and a long history of being actively engaged in his community to his new role as a SVFD Commissioner,” said SVFD Fire Chief, Bryan Collins. “During his time as a Police Chief, Brian interacted with SVFD firefighters and administrators on a regular basis, making him very familiar with our structure, standing within our communities, as well as with many of our current SVFD board members and personnel. Brian’s experience working and collaborating on regional issues aligns nicely with SVFD’s philosophy and will help us continue to be a catalyst for local and regional excellence and innovation.”