A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 to celebrate the reopening of Kirkland Fire Station 25 located at 12033 76th Place NE, Kirkland. The public will also have an opportunity to tour the newly renovated station. There is parking along 76th Pl NE. However, since parking is limited, those attending the ceremony and open house are encouraged to walk, bus or carpool.

“The Kirkland Fire Department has provided service from Station 25 in the Finn Hill neighborhood for many years. These renovations make our community and our firefighters safer and ensure that we can continue providing services from Station 25 for decades to come,” said Council member Penny Sweet, chair of the Public Safety Committee, in a press release.

Station 25 is the oldest fire station in Kirkland. Renovations started in October 2017 and included seismic retrofit of the structure so that it can better withstand disaster and replacement of all aging mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire suppression systems with energy-efficient, code-compliant systems.

There is also now an updated floor plan and improved ventilation to firefighter living and working spaces including a new, separate drying room for firefighter gear with separate ventilation. The final construction cost is just over $3 million and was paid for using funds from a bond issued by former Fire District #41 which covered the Finn Hill neighborhood prior to annexation of the area. The overall project came in under budget; remaining funds will be transferred to the Fire Station 24 Replacement project.

Additionally, the project included a new art piece at the station. The art incorporates the station identifier “25” and as the artist explained, “the theme, “Hope in the Dark,” refers to the steadfast presence of our first responders, ready to roll out at a moment’s notice.” The artist, Perri Howard of Velocity Made Good, was recommended by the Kirkland Arts Commission and approved by the City Council as part of the city’s 1% for the Arts program.

Crews responded out of former Fire Station 24 on 84th Avenue during the renovation. The Station 24 property will be sold now that the renovation is complete to help fund a new Station 24 in Juanita. Planning has begun for the construction of the new Station 24.

For more information about Station 25, go to the Station 25 project page.