News Flash

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Dec. 9, 2022 –This week, Eastside Fire & Rescue (EF&R) began transforming Station 31 in Woodinville into a regional training facility. The station will remain fully staffed for fire and medical responses but will now host the South King County Training Consortium as a north-end office and training facility. The Consortium combines resources and training officers from over ten member agencies.

"EF&R has been a member of the South King County Training Consortium for the past five years," said Fire Chief Ben Lane. "Expanding the Consortium training facilities to Woodinville will further our effort to provide firefighters in our area with regionally consistent training."

The Consortium has a single consistent training curriculum that all member departments follow. The standardized curriculum helps fire departments accomplish more annual training, reduce costs, and eliminate duplication of training development efforts.

In addition to the current vehicle extrication grounds, construction on a new training tower has begun at the facility. The three-story modular structure will enable training in all aspects of firefighting and technical rescue. Although the tower will have no live-burn capacity, it will incorporate smoke machines. The Consortium will host around eight full-time training instructors and administrative staff. The station currently hosts EF&R's Fire Marshal Office and emergency response personnel.

"A local training facility is going to save crews time traveling for specialized training, "said Deputy Chief Doug McDonald. "Adding to training personnel and resources in our area benefits firefighters and the community."

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Eastside Fire & Rescue provides fire and emergency medical services to Issaquah, North Bend, Sammamish, Carnation, Preston, May Valley, Wilderness Rim, Tiger Mountain, and Woodinville. EF&R averages 14,000 calls per year and employs 188 sworn personnel.