The Spokane Valley Fire Department plans to construct a $3 million administration building near the Interstate 90-Pines Road interchange to replace its current offices on east Sprague Avenue.

The department has been planning the project since 2008, and expects to call for construction bids this month, says Deputy Chief Larry Rider. It expects construction of the building to begin in January and to be completed in March 2012.

Currently, the department's administrative offices are located inside Fire Station No. 1, at 10319 E. Sprague. That building was constructed in 1976 and has been remodeled about four times, but the department has outgrown the building.

The planned 22,000-square-foot new building, designed by Lindquist Architects PS, of Spokane, will be built adjacent to Station No. 8, at 2110 N. Wilbur, he says.

Funding for the project is coming from a levy lid lift approved by voters last year.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department also recently expanded into the newly completed station No. 10, at 17217 E. Sprague. That 10,400-square-foot structure allows the department to put more of its reserve equipment into service, it says.

Next, the department plans to reconstruct Station No. 6, at 6303 E. Sprague, because the structure can't accommodate all of the equipment now located there. The department hopes to seek bids for the design of that station sometime in 2011, and to begin construction in 2012.

Other projects being eyed are the relocation of a station in Liberty Lake and constructing an 11th station, Rider says. The department serves the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, and portions of unincorporated Spokane County, and has 10 stations in all.