This year, North Mason Fire District Resident Volunteers participated in the Columbia Tower Firefighter Stair Climb to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Climbers had to dress in full firefighting "combat" gear and race up 69 floors (788 vertical feet) of the Columbia Tower in downtown Seattle, complete with air tanks and face masks. This years climbers from North Mason District #2 (and their climb times) were:
- Mason Anderson, Resident Volunteer [17:23.00]
- Brian Barrett, Resident Volunteer [20:45.40]
- Justin Feldhaus, Resident Volunteer [24:27.55]
- Chad Foster, Resident Volunteer [26:19.10]
- Seth Holsinger, Resident Volunteer [18:16.50]
Resident Volunteer Courtney Newman provided "pit crew" assistance to the team by changing air bottles at the 40th floor of the tower.
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The Columbia Tower is the site of the annual stairclimb. Firefighters must climb 69 floors in full fire combat gear, including face mask and air tank. |
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The Seattle Fire Department hosts the event which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. |
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Resident volunteer Chad Foster and resident volunteer Justin Feldhaus keep watch over the gear used during their climb. Fully "bunked" in complete fire combat gear adds an additional 70 pounds to their climb. |
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North Mason resident volunteer Mason gets a hand from resident Brian Barrett in attaching the electronic wrist strap that marks the start and finish times during the grueling climb. |
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Climbers are organized into Battalions of approximately 50 climbers each. Organizers call roll for each batallion, and then the Seattle Pipe and Drum Corps leads off the first climb with traditional bagpipes. |
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Resident Brian Barrett and another climber from Snohomish receive last-minute instructions from climb organizers. |
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Once briefed, firefighters are taken to the 5th floor of the Columbia Tower to the base of the long staircase they will climb. |
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