Fire Chief Grover to retire

The Spokane Valley Fire Department will need to find a new chief.

Fire Chief Mark Grover, 53, has announced he’ll retire in February.

Grover said he told the board of fire commissioners while at their June 4 retreat in Chelan, Wash. His contract requires six months notice so the board can go through a search for a replacement, Grover said.

Grover joined Valley Fire in March 1974.

“I guess in this business 30 years is considered, generally, a good, long career. I felt it was, too,” Grover said.

Grover became the chief in March 2001.Grover said he felt it was a good time for someone else to take over the fire district, which serves nearly all of Spokane Valley as well as Liberty Lake and Otis Orchards.

Valley Fire will open a new fire station and two paramedic houses this fall as well as hold a vote to ask residents whether they want to annex and become a permanent part of the fire district. self end