Sam and I were honored to take part in the annual Firefighter Stairclimb 2009 in Downtown Seattle’s Columbia tower.

Clad in full bunker gear and breathing apparatus, collectively weighing about 50 lbs., over 1,500 firefighters ranging in age from 18 to 63 sprint-climbed the 788 feet in vertical elevation (1,311 stairs / 69 stories) from the Fifth Avenue lobby to the 73rd floor observation deck of the 76-story Columbia Center.

The firefighters came from all over the US, as well as from New Zealand, Germany and Canada. They raised over $530,00 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This year’s winner was Missoula Rural Fire’s Kory Burgess, with a record breaking climb of 10 minutes, 55.75 seconds.

For more information on the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb or to contribute to a local firefighter or firehouse participating in the climb, please visit www.FirefighterStairclimb.org