Spokane Firefighters climb stairs for worthy cause

On Sunday March 2nd, several City of Spokane Firefighters will travel to downtown Seattle to compete in the 17th Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb at Columbia Center. The SFD Team's web site has been established for supporters to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the beneficiary of the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society supports blood cancer research and patient services programs. The Scott Firefighter Stair Climb takes place each year at the Bank of America tower in downtown Seattle. At 788 feet of vertical elevation, the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle stands as the second tallest building west of the Mississippi. It takes 69 flights of stairs and 1,311 steps to reach the highly acclaimed observation deck overlooking the city. Stairclimb participants must wear firefighting turnouts and gear - boots, pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)-which can weigh in excess of 50 pounds. SFD participants have spent months training for the event off-duty, often practicing in the early morning hours at the US Bank Building downtown on Riverside.

This year over 1,300 firefighters from 200 departments are expected to compete in the event, once again making the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb the largest single firefighting competition in the world. The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb supports the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising money through sponsorships, individual and department fundraising, and entry fees. In 2007, the event brought in a record $365,000 for blood-cancer research and patient services. The SFD Stairclimb Team’s contact is Brian Turpin 509-230-1599. Watch the SFD Blog (www.spokanefire.blogspot.com) for local upcoming events featuring the Team’s efforts to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Video of Spokane Fire Department crews training for stairclimb.