(Image: CHS)

A $2.5 million project to upgrade Capitol Hill’s Fire Station 25 and make the building safer in an earthquake is complete and the chief wants to invite you over this weekend to check out the improvements.

E Pine at 14th’s Station 25 will host an open house Saturday, May 10th from 11 to 1 — it’s a short window of opportunity but the firefighters that serve the central core of Seattle are busy folks.

CHS wrote about the project’s start here in 2012 — at that point it was a $3.2 million project so a few dollars may been saved along the way. The station work was phased so that it continue to operate during construction. The disco ball hanging behind the roll-up doors, thank goodness, is still there. You can read more on the work and this weekend’s open house, below.

(Image: City of Seattle)

Community invited to visit Seattle’s latest fire station upgrade
Fire Station 25 hosts an open house May 10, 2014, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SEATTLE – The Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27, invite the community to visit the completed seismic and safety upgrade of Seattle’s Fire Station 25, located at 1300 E. Pine St. on Capitol Hill during an open house on May 10, 2014, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We are happy to serve the residents and businesses of Capitol Hill,” says Fire Chief Gregory Dean.  “We are throwing open our doors so the community can meet their local firefighters and tour the upgraded fire facility.”

Fire Station 25 is one of 32 neighborhood fire stations being upgraded, renovated or replaced through the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Program, which was approved by Seattle voters in 2003. Built in 1969, Fire Station 25 was in generally fair condition, but required seismic retrofits to meet current earthquake safety standards. Interior remodeling to enhance operations was also part of the $2.5 million project.

“Firefighters need to be able to respond in emergencies such as earthquakes and other natural disasters,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “I want to invite everyone to see first-hand the seismically retrofitted and newly upgraded fire station.”

Fire Station 25 houses one engine company (E25), a ladder unit (L10), an aid unit (A25) and several reserve units. It also houses the department’s Mobile Ventilation Unit, which is used to support large-scale decontamination/ventilation efforts. Fire Station 25 remained occupied during construction, with phasing of the work done to allow continued station operation.

Seismic upgrades include a drilled piling anchor support system for the training tower and other steel bracing. Interior renovations include a new decontamination space and equipment maintenance room, improvements to the firefighters’ equipment (bunker equipment) storage, an upgraded beanery (aka kitchen), two new accessible restrooms, separate bunk spaces, and new flooring surfaces.

The Fire Station 25 project was developed by the city of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, designed by ARC Architects and built by Western Ventures Construction. Construction began in spring 2013 and was completed in April 2014.