By Cyndy Glenn

Fire station 32 in the West Seattle Junction held an open house on March 1 to let the public know about the plans for it's tear down and reconstruction which should be complete by the end of 2016. The station, located at 3715 S.W. Alaska is about 40 years old and ready for replacement. It's systems are old, it has inadequate space for modern apparatus and staffing levels and it's out of regulatory compliance, plus it doesn't meet current seismic standards.

It will become the lead station, SFD says, for Battalion VII, which covers all of West Seattle, southwest Seattle, Harbor Island and the industrial areas along the Duwamish River.

The new station will allow a Battalion Chief to be located at the station; there's no room for one now. The current Battalion Chief is located in the Admiral district.

The new fire station will feature artwork of an antique fire truck on the way to a fire; this sculpture will be suspended from the exterior of the building.

The company designing the building, BCJ Architecture-Bohlin Cynwinski Jackson, has built structures in NYC and in Grand Teton National Park; they are headquartered in Seattle.

The open house featured an architectural model of the new firehouse, along with displays of current Fire Station renovation projects / construction projects around Seattle.

Following the rebuild, Station 32's core operations will continue to comprise an engine company, a ladder unit, a medic unit and a reserve medic unit. In addition, the station will have an additional bay to accommodate a battalion chief unit. The rebuilt facility will also include a battalion chief office.

The rebuild will create space to house one of the City's three new emergency fragmentation caches within Station 32. Each fragmentation cache would be positioned to respond to seismic and man-made disasters that could isolate certain areas of Seattle due to bridge damage or debris blockage. Construction of space to house the caches will provide the City with future flexibility to deliver this enhanced service at a minimal up-front capital cost.

Temporary Relocation
During the station upgrade, the station is expected to be relocated to an interim facility that will ensure continued fire and medic response to the neighborhood served by Fire Station 32.

Planned Station Features

Technical Capacities:

• Earthquake fragmentation cache
• Bay area for breathing apparatus and compressed air fill equipment
• Decontamination/clean room
• Maintenance work area, battery charging alcove and compressor
• Storage for major disaster supplies and EMS equipment
• Hose tower

Administrative and Crew Areas:

• Secure public lobby
• Station office, including report desk and dispatch counter
• Visitor-accessible unisex restroom
• Beanery kitchen and dining room
• Day Room
• Physical fitness room
• Officers' quarters
• Firefighter bunk rooms
• Toilet/shower rooms
• Laundry room