The Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27, invite the community to check out the completed seismic and safety upgrade of Seattle’s Fire Station 36, located at 3600 23rd Ave. SW in the Delridge/Harbor Island neighborhood during an open house on July 12, 2014, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fire Station 36 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 1971, Fire Station 36 was in generally fair condition, but required seismic retrofits to meet current earthquake safety standards. Remodeling to enhance operations was also part of the $1.7 million project.

Fire Station 36 houses one engine company (E36), the department’s Tunnel Rescue Unit, and the marine specialty unit designated to serve the south end of Seattle. To ensure continued fire response to the neighborhood while the construction work was ongoing, the crew worked out of an interim facility located nearby.

“Our Marine Emergency Response Team provides vital technical expertise to Incident Commanders during any shipboard emergencies, including fires, hazardous material releases and confined space rescues,” said Fire Chief Gregory Dean. “These firefighters also work closely with the Fireboat crew to protect the 193 miles of city waterfront from disaster.”

As part of the safety upgrades to the facility, the roof structure was reworked for seismic strengthening and a new roof was installed. This project added 1,200 square feet of living space to the facility, including a bunkroom with heavily soundproofed walls and an ADA-compliant restroom. The existing south side of the building was reconfigured for a new physical training space, storage for the firefighters’ protective bunker gear, and a new decontamination area. The remodel work also included new mechanical heat pumps for heating and cooling and an upgraded power service.

The Fire Station 36 project was developed by the city of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, designed by Johnston Architects and built by Kirtley-Cole Associates LLC. Construction began in September 2013 and was completed in April 2014.