UPDATE: As an eApology for misspelling “Wedgwood” in their Twitter announcement about the Station 40 Open House, the Seattle Fire Department has said that there will be “hundreds” of free Top Pot Doughnuts for those that come.
As my eApology to @WedgwoodCC how about hundreds of free @Toppot donuts at the Open House on Saturday at Fire Station 40?
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) August 6, 2013
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 Wedgwood’s Fire Station 40, located at 9401 35th Ave NE, during an open house on Saturday, August 10, from 11 AM to 1 PM.
“Our firefighters play an important role in this tight-knit community,” says Fire Chief Gregory Dean. “Here is a chance for the residents to meet their local firefighters, learn more about their lifesaving techniques and see their improved work facility.”
Fire Station 40 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. Fire Station 40 was first built in 1965 and has had only minor upgrades since then. The building was in generally fair condition, but required seismic retrofits to meet the current earthquake safety standards. Interior remodeling to enhance operations was also part of the $2 million project, begun in the Fall of 2012 and completed in May 2013.
Wedgwood's Fire Station 40 at 9401 35th Ave NE
Fire Station 40 houses one engine company (E40) with four firefighters and one reserve engine. The construction project was completed in phases while the station remained occupied and active, with the crew living on the east side of the station while construction occurred on the west side. The crew and contractor then traded places to finish the remaining work.
The entire wood structure was seismically renovated, with a special focus on the tall hose tower. Interior renovations include an upgraded beanery (aka kitchen), a remodeled physical training room, reconfigured bunk and living space, a new dayroom area east of the apparatus bay, and revised office space to improve efficiency of work spaces. Additionally, existing space was converted into an apparatus bay support area, providing decontamination equipment and crew preparation and vehicle maintenance functions.
The Fire Station 40 project was developed by the city of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, designed by TCA Architecture and Planning of Seattle, and built by Mike Werlech Construction of Seattle.