Fire House Productions thinking bigger

The team at Fire House Productions describes their business as “flying under the radar” for the last few years. But even with a low profile, the Spokane-based cannabis grower has successfully cultivated a group of loyal fans who enjoy its consistent taste, quality and overall experience. But there are still many cannabis connoisseurs around the state who haven’t been made aware of it yet. This could be changing soon, said Nick Burger, one of the owners of the indoor Tier 2 processor/producer. The company recently purchased a second Tier 2 license, which will double, perhaps even triple, the size of the operation and available product. (In Washington, a Tier 2 Liquor and Cannabis Board license allows growth of between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet of plants.) “We have a lot of room to expand,” Burger said. Fire House currently grows 10 strains of cannabis, which can be found in the form of hand-trimmed flower and pre-roll joints at several Eastern Washington retailers, including TreeHouse Club. “We call them our Power 10, and you’ll like any of them,” he said. One of the best selling strains is Gorilla Glue No. 4. Burger said there’s been the same small crew of employees in place for the last three years, many who have been friends since their days growing up in Spokane Valley. “It’s been pretty fun,” he said. “We’re all from U-High, Central Valley or some of the other Valley schools.” The ownership also includes his dad, Frank Burger III, an owner of 509Grow, a Spokane business known for indoor and outdoor garden supplies. Fire House Productions started out as an empty building near Francis Avenue and Market Street. Nick Burger, previously a sheet metal laborer, helped create durable shelving and other infrastructure to grow and harvest plants. “Coming from a union background, it was pretty scary at first to move into this industry,” he said. Adding to the anxiety was a family tragedy that occurred around the time that he and his family were getting ready for the business to come online. “Our house burned down right in the middle of all of the planning,” he said. “We lost everything but it did give us inspiration for a great name.” The fire-related name and imagery of flames has led to some other creative visuals and references, especially since the cannabis industry has no shortage of related descriptors for describing quality weed and quality experiences: getting lit, getting blazed, firing things up, etc. But as easy as it can be to get people to appreciate the clever name, Burger said the company wants Fire House Productions to be known as a great all-around product. “We really do focus on quality over quantity,” he said. Because it’s a smaller-sized operation, the team can focus on creating the precise blend of nutrients and lighting for every strain, and also make sure everything is properly tested for pesticides or other potential contaminants. “Our consistency is really a key part of what we’re about, whether it’s the taste, smell, or the high you get,” he said. “We’re continuous in our focus on consistency, which is what sets us apart from some of the other growers.” Fire House Productions also works with Cannavan, which provides secure transportation of product and cash for retailers and producers/processors around the state. Now, with the opportunity to grow the business, and grow more cannabis for Washington consumers, Burger and the rest of the Fire House Productions team are trying to figure out whether to add new strains or simply cultivate more of the ones that consumers already love. “We have a good name, and we’re here to stay,” Burger said.