Seattle, WA — The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) is conducting live-fire training exercises this weekend at a vacant home located at 3502 Meridian Ave. N. in the Wallingford neighborhood. The training will occur from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 24 and 25.
Live-fire training allows firefighter recruits to work alongside veteran firefighters and officers, giving them hands-on experience with real fire behavior in a controlled and supervised setting. According to SFD, crews have spent the past week notifying nearby homes and businesses about the potential impacts.
To ensure public and responder safety, portions of the roads within one block of the training site will be closed. Residents may notice brown water in the area due to sediment stirred up in the pipes. The discoloration is temporary and typically clears on its own within two to eight hours, officials said.
The department acknowledges that the exercises may cause temporary inconvenience and thanked neighbors for their patience. SFD emphasized that realistic training—supported by community cooperation—helps maintain its firefighters’ high readiness level.
During the training, residents will see smoke as controlled burns are set inside the structure. All hazardous materials, including carpet, plastics, synthetics, and asbestos, have been removed. Fires will be ignited with clean wood in accordance with Puget Sound Clean Air Agency regulations. SFD notes that the smoke produced is similar to fireplace smoke and that lingering vapor after extinguishment is mostly steam.
Four to six training “evolutions” will take place throughout each day, each lasting 15–20 minutes. Live-fire sessions typically run until around 3 p.m., with a break from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Fire crews will be on site earlier for setup and stay later for takedown.
Neighbors are welcome to watch the exercises from a safe distance. Anyone with questions can contact SFD’s public information officer at sfdpio@seattle.gov.