Fire Department Training Taking Place in Town Center

June 11, 2024 - The City of Mercer Island will be issuing a Demolition Permit for the existing structures at the site of the proposed Xing Hua mixed use development, located in Town Center at 2885 78th Ave SE. The property owners have partnered with fire services agencies to allow for fire department training on the structure before the building is demolished.

Eastside Fire & Rescue, along with crews from Kent, Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Auburn, will be conducting non-live fire destructive firefighter training. This will include the following:

• Vertical ventilation on the roof (cutting holes)
• Forcible entry
• Search and Rescue

This type of training provides realistic skill exercises allowing firefighters to conduct essential practice on actual structures. No fire, or water, will be used in this training. There will be onsite training officers during the training and the building will be secured each day until it is demolished.

Islanders may see fire services activity in the area throughout this week, but should know this activity at the building is just a training.

Since the Design Commission's decision to conditionally approve the proposal in late 2021, the City has been reviewing construction permit applications. It is anticipated construction permits will be issued in the near future - the project's Let's Talk page will be updated as new information becomes available.