Fire District 9 Marks 50Th Year Station Has Grown To 39 Full-Time Firefighters, 110 Others

Thu., June 11, 1998

By Kevin Blocker kevinb@spokesman.com

Spokane Fire District 9 will celebrate its 50th anniversary this month.

And there’s plenty to celebrate.

The station boasts 39 career, full-time firefighters and 110 part-time and volunteer firefighters.

Steve Tevlin got involved with the station in the 1980s and hasn’t looked back.

“I was in the construction trade and I wanted something to recession-proof myself from Reaganomics,” Tevlin said. “In the back of my mind I’ve always been infatuated with the fire department.

“I got involved with it, and I like every facet of it. If you build a roof or house, they say, ‘Good job,”’ he said.

“But now when I get called out, the people really need me. It’s nice being appreciated for what you do.”

District 9 encompasses 35,000 people within 120 square miles. The property value under its control is estimated at $1.5 billion.

District 9 serves Country Homes, Fairwood, Five Mile, Foothills, Gleneden, Linwood, Mead, Nine Mile, Northwood, Orchard Prairie, Seven Mile, Wandermere and Whitworth communities.

Also, the district’s firefighters dedicate more than 100 hours a year to teaching children about safety. In cooperation with the East Region EMS Training Council, it also distributes bicycle helmets to children ages 4 through 6 in district pre-schools and primary schools.

A variety of displays and appearances will be included at the anniversary celebration. They include:

Vintage and contemporary fire trucks.

Station tour and historical displays.

Technical rescue demonstrations.

Auto extrication demonstrations.

Emergency services equipment display.

Fire prevention and safety displays.

Historic wildlands firefighting equipment.

Appearances by law enforcement officials.

Dive team representatives.

And a fire station celebration just wouldn’t be complete without “Smokey Bear.” He’ll be there, too.

Celebration Spokane Fire District 9 will have an anniversary celebration June 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Station No. 92 at Farwell Road and Market Street. The public is invited.

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