Blew's Construction Inc., of Spokane Valley, has started work on a $3.1 million addition and renovation at a fire station in Sunnyside, Wash., located between Yakima and the Tri-Cities.

Jeff Orwick, a Blew's Construction project manager, says the project's first phase will include erecting a nearly 10,000-square-foot addition that will have three fire-apparatus bays, offices, a training room, and on-duty firefighter living quarters.

Sunnyside Fire Department employees will continue to use the original 6,500-square-foot station, located at 513 S. Eighth in the city's downtown, until the addition is finished late this year.

Once work on the addition is complete, the employees will occupy the new space while Blew's renovates the original station areas into additional offices, a laundry room, and a mechanical room.

The entire project is expected to be finished by April 2014.

The fire department will retain the station's original two fire-apparatus bays for use by the city's emergency medical services vehicles, Orwick says.

Orwick says that the city is undertaking the project because the station needs more space as well as improved facilities.

Sunnyside's fire station also provides space for the fire department's administrative employees.

Blew's also will build a parking lot and walkways, as well as make landscaping improvements.

MJ Neal Associates-Architects PLLC, of Wenatchee, Wash., designed the project.