POST FALLS — Over 300 people joined Kootenai County Fire and Rescue to celebrate the opening of the newest fire station in Post Falls on Saturday morning.  

KCFR Station 3, located on the corner of Prairie Avenue and Charleville Road, was funded by voter-approved bond initiatives in 2021. The new station is critical to meeting the needs of the quickly growing city, said Mayor Ron Jacobson.  

As is tradition for the opening of new fire stations, Honor Guard members raised the Idaho state flag, the American flag and the KCFR flag during Saturday’s ceremony. The Post Falls High School band performed the national anthem.  

“It’s very important to honor the traditions that come with the opening of a new fire station,” said KCFR Fire Chief Chris Way.  

Instead of a ribbon cutting, the official opening of the fire station was marked with the traditional fire hose uncoupling. Community members were then invited to walk around the inside of the fire station, talk to firefighters, and even learn hands-only CPR. 

“This needed to be a house, not just a facility,” Way said. “What you see before you is a culmination of these efforts ... we could not have done this without a great number of people.”  

Way was honored by Ginno Construction, who worked with KCFR to build Station 3, with an honorary fire helmet commemorating their joint efforts during Saturday's ceremony.  

Way also said Station 3 will “serve our agency and the community for the next 50 years ... and we are just thrilled to death about that.” 

    Honor Guard members perform the ceremonial raising of the flags at Fire Station 3 Saturday morning.
  

    Over 300 community members and partners attended the opening of Fire Station 3 in Post Falls on Saturday.
  

    A young boy donned a Fire Chief costume at the opening of Fire Station 3 in Post Falls on Saturday.