Artist Wayne Chabre completed the public artwork "Fire Tower" at Fire Station 28 in the Rainier Valley last Thursday.

Artist Wayne Chabre completed the public artwork Fire Tower at Fire Station 28 in the Rainier Valley last Thursday.  Chabre’s four-sided bronze tower looks like historical fire towers that were once placed around Seattle neighborhoods to keep watch and sound alarms at the sight of a fire. Each of the artwork’s four sides depicts a different scene from the history of fire fighting in Seattle. Look carefully and you’ll see fire boats, the original Columbia City fire station, and the Great Seattle Fire of 1889.

In the artwork, the shape of the fire tower curves and twists. Chabre states that he incorporated these visual elements of movement and rhythm to convey “the good-natured competence, commitment, vigor and devotion with which the Fire Department keeps watch and protects the city.” At night, a light from inside the artwork glows.

Fire Station 28 is located at 5968 Rainier Avenue S. The artwork was commissioned with Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy 1% for Art funds.

Image: Wayne Chabre, Fire Tower, 2010, bronze, resin and light. Photo: Patricia Hopper.