Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness · Updated Oct. 14, 2026
A permanent fire station for Latah Valley has been planned for years. The City owns a site and has started design, but we have not confirmed that construction is funded.
What’s happening
Latah Valley is served by a temporary fire station that was built after a 2015 review found fire trucks taking much longer than usual to reach the area. A permanent station was expected by 2020, but it has not been built.
The City has secured a site for the permanent station on Cheney-Spokane Road, and utility extensions and fill at the site are complete. More than $800,000 has been set aside for design, and in May 2025 the City reported that design had started. In 2024 the full station was estimated at more than $8 million.
In March 2026 the council sent the City a letter asking for funding for the station in the 2027 budget. The City has posted its Preliminary 2027-2028 Budget and a 2027-2032 draft capital plan. The budget document does not list the station by name, and we have not yet confirmed whether the capital plan funds construction.
Why it matters
Faster response matters most in a wildfire or medical emergency. A fire south of the Hatch Road bridge on September 10 was a reminder of how close the risk is.
Where things stand
- Next — Confirm whether the City’s draft 2027-2032 capital plan and the 2027-2028 budget fund construction, and follow the City Council’s vote. Funding and hearing dates not yet confirmed.
- March 2026 — The council sent the City a letter asking for 2027 funding.
- May 2025 — The City reported it had started designing the station.
- 2024 — Site secured on Cheney-Spokane Road. Station estimated at more than $8 million.
How you can help
A few minutes is enough to make a difference.
Start here
- Tell the City what you want. Call the City Council office at (509) 625-6255, or dial 311 or (509) 755-2489, and say the Latah Valley fire station matters to you. The City also invites residents to submit their own budget priorities.
- Look at the budget. The Preliminary 2027-2028 Budget and the 2027-2032 draft capital plan are posted on the City’s Budget page. Tell us what you find.
- Tell us your experience. If you have waited on an emergency response or have a concern about fire safety in Latah Valley, share it in the form below.
- Pass this page along to a neighbor.
We will add budget hearing dates here once the City confirms them.
Community discussion
Have a question, an update or firsthand experience to share? Add to the conversation so neighbors and Council volunteers can work toward solutions together. Comments are reviewed by the council before they appear. Comments are community comments, not verified facts or official Council positions.