Eight Shoreline Firefighters to climb Columbia Center

By Melanie Granfors, PIO, Shoreline Fire

On March, 7, eight firefighters from Shoreline will race up 69 floors of the Columbia Center in Seattle to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The annual Scott Firefighter Stair Climb features firefighters from all over the world as they climb 1,311 steps in full bunker (combat) gear and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), weighing over 50 pounds.
 
This year, the Shoreline team will be climbing in honor of Theron Gibb, father of Shoreline Fire’s Captain Bryan Gibb. Theron, a retired Seattle firefighter is currently battling leukemia. The Shoreline team also climbs in honor of cancer survivor, Mick Lamar, who is Shoreline firefighter Jason Lamar’s dad. Mick is also a longtime fire service employee.

The Firefighter Climb raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, as well as for the honorees that teams select. Shoreline’s team of eight includes firefighters Troy Crossley, Mark Peterson, Andy Holstad, Jared Linke, Steve Anderson, Scott Kim, Brett Defenbaugh and Andrew Morehouse.
 

The Firefighter Stair Climb was started years ago by Shoreline Firefighter David Engler – who climbed the tower in full bunker gear during the civilian event. The firefighter event now typically draws over 1000 firefighters and raises thousands of dollars each year. Shoreline Firefighters Union Local 1760 volunteers have staffed the event since the beginning—and will be out in full force this year alongside hundreds of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society volunteers who make the event possible.

In addition to the Firefighter Climb, the “Big Climb” takes place on March 21 and is open to the general public.  Check the webpage for more information.

Photo by squidminion