Firefighter training set at vacant Lowman Beach buildings

Before the county-purchased former residences across from Lowman Beach Park are demolished for a new sewage-storage tank, they’ll be a training site for Seattle firefighters – starting tomorrow. Here’s the announcement just in from the county:

Vacant properties scheduled for deconstruction in West Seattle will be used to provide Seattle Fire Department personnel with training opportunities on March 28 and 29.

King County acquired the properties in 2012 to site new facilities that will be built as part of the Murray Avenue Combined Sewer Overflow Control project.

Beginning Thursday, March 28, firefighters will conduct training drills in four buildings in the 7000 block of Beach Drive Southwest in Seattle between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Drills could include cutting into roofs and tearing down drywall inside the buildings. Doors and site fencing removed during these activities will be replaced at the conclusion of activities around 5 p.m. The site and training activities will be monitored by fire department leadership.

During the training exercises, neighbors can expect increased activity, the presence of emergency vehicles on Beach Drive Southwest, and a temporary reduction in parking near Lowman Beach Park. Traffic control measures and site security will be in place during training hours, and Seattle Fire Department personnel will clean up and secure the property after training is complete.

Additional information about the project is available at kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/MurrayCSOStorage.aspx.

Training Lieutenant March 27, 2013 (10:17 pm)

I want to invite everyone down to watch this very important training. The latest Recruit Class of the Seattle Fire Department will be working hard and practicing the fundamentals of firefighting all day. I can’t express how important this opportunity is for their development into Professional Firefighters. The training they receive tomorrow will help them develop the skills they need to become the very best the citizens of Seattle can expect. We will be on hand to answer any questions that you might have. So don’t be shy, come down and learn about what we do. I’ll see you there.

WSB March 27, 2013 (10:34 pm)

Thanks, TL!

Danny Del Rio March 27, 2013 (11:53 pm)

So sad to see these buildings go. Had many friends that lived there.

cjboffoli March 28, 2013 (8:29 am)

Danny: I’m sadder to see tens of thousands of raw sewage and untreated runoff flow into the Sound each time the pumps are overwhelmed at the existing station. It is a lot easier to find a new house to rent than it is to decontaminate our local waters. I’m sorry your friends were inconvenienced or had to leave places they liked. But the destruction of those properties is definitely for the greater good.

anita March 28, 2013 (11:52 am)

I’m so sorry for those people who lost their homes by eminent domain here. I can’t imagine what it would be like to buy a place you expect to live in for life and have it taken away.

Go ahead, Mr. Boffoli, beat me up. I don’t care.

King County WTD March 28, 2013 (4:01 pm)

Just a clarification about how the properties were acquired.King County worked with willing sellers to purchase these properties at fair market value, which is always our preference. None of the properties were taken by eminent domain. Tenants were fairly relocated and given relocation assistance for which they were eligible.