10/03/10 thru 10/09/10:  Fire Prevention Week Fire Prevention week is October 3 - 9, 2010.  District 8 members will be visiting area elementary schools to share the message "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With".  To learn more about the importance of smoke alarms in your home read Safety Tips for Kids and Safety Tips for Adults

09/18/10:  Fill the Boot - Come out and support SCFD8 and Spokane County firefighters as they participate in Fill the Boot day on Saturday, September 18th. SCFD8 members will be at 57th and Regal from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in effort to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  All donations go to the Spokane Muscular Dystrophy office and stay local to help MD patients in our community.  Your contributions are used to provide annual shots, assistance equipment such as wheel chairs, and help fund the MDA Kids Summer Camp at Twin Lakes. Thank you for your support!

08/10/10:  BoFC Regular Meeting - The next Board of Fire Commissioners regular meeting will be Tuesday, August 10, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm.  Monthly Board meetings are held at District Headquarters, Station 82, 12100 E. Palouse Hwy., Valleyford, Washington.  The public is always welcome to attend.

07/14/10:  Ground Ambulance Service Agreement Signed - A new comprehensive Spokane County Ground Ambulance Service Agreement was approved by the Ambulance Service Board on June 30, 2010. After nearly four years of work effort by participating agencies, the contract was signed between the ASB and American Medical Response, with an effective start date of July 1, 2010. Agencies participating in the agreement are: Spokane Valley Fire Department, Spokane County Fire Protection Districts 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, and Medical Lake. The new agreement will provide for improved services to our citizens at no additional cost with pre-identified performance measures that AMR ambulances must meet. The agreement also provides a waiver of charges to our citizens by the ambulance company should they not meet the agreed upon performance measures outlined in the contract. The agreement further protects you, our citizens, by ensuring rate stabilization and audit controls for charges billed by the private provider (AMR) and audits of their performance under the agreement. Pictured at the formal signing ceremony: Mike Thompson, Chief of Spokane Valley Fire Department and Contract Agreement Administrator; Randy Strozyk, Vice President of American Medical Response; Rocco Roncarati, the Spokane, Bozeman and Billings General Manager for AMR; and William Walkup, Chief of Spokane County Fire District 8 and Chair of the Ambulance Service Board for Spokane County

07/13/10:  SCFD8 Board of Fire Commissioners and Mr. Chris Desborough recognized the dedication and teamwork of District 8 members during the July BoFC meeting.  On June 1st, Station 84's crew responded to a possible cardiac arrest.  Upon arrival, they took over patient care, performed life-saving CPR, defibrillation, advanced life support, and ensured transport to the the hospital.  After a stay in the hospital and recovery at home, Mr. Desborough joined District 8 in celebrating the success of his story.  Congratulations to all involved!   Pictured:  Division Chief Tom Hatley, Firefighter Jason Tellinghusen, Paramedic/Firefighter Amanda Jordan, Mr. Chris Desborough, Firefighter Shane Jenkins, and Lt. Jeff Wainwright

07/10/10:  SCFD8 members were present to share fire safety information with participants of the Gold's Gym 5k Fun Run on Saturday, July 10th.  The event was sponsored by Gold's Gym as a benefit for the Spokane Guild School.   Pictured: Lt. Dave Cleary, Lt. Nick Henry, Firefighter Jeff Smith, and Wildland Firefighter Ryan Hodge at the 5k Fun Run

03/05/10:  SCFD8 recognized the following members for their dedication and outstanding contributions in 2009:  20 Years of Service - Bruce Ellison, Roger Harris, Paul May & Charles Southern; 15 Years of Service - Todd Ullrich, Jeff Wainwright & Todd Wood; 5 Years of Service - David Cleary, Shawn Garrett, Jacob Hebden & Kristen Parker; Firefighter of the Year, East Battalion - John Celestino; Firefighter of the Year, West Battalion - Joe St. John; Resident Firefighter of the Year - Drew Parker; THE Firefighter of the Year - Shawn Garrett; EMS Provider of the Year - Shayne Hanson; Career Firefighter of the Year - Kris Cress; and the Commissioners Award was presented to Steve Bailey.  Special retirement recognition was given to Paul May and Charles Southern.  Thank you SCFD8 members for all you do!

12/2009:  Santa joined SCFD8 members as they visited families in the Ponderosa, Painted Hills, Bella Vista, Saltese, Morningside, Hangman Valley and the Moran Prairie neighborhoods.

12/08/09:  Nick Henry, Mike Lamb, and Jeff Sevigney were promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 12/01/09.  Commissioner Greg Hesse administered the Oath of Office to Lt. Henry and Lt. Lamb on December 8th.  Commissioner Lee Boling also took his Oath of Office for his new six-year term which will begin January 1, 2010.

11/19/09:  Commissioner Dennis Ross takes Oath of Office Dennis Ross was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Fire Commissioners on November 16, 2009.  Commissioner Ross brings over eleven years of volunteer firefighting and EMS experience to District 8.  As a former business owner, and currently as Vice President of Retail Operations for Aslin Finch Company, he is able to share his broad experience in  business operations with SCFD8.  Welcome Commissioner Ross!