Shoreline Fire's David Engler honored at 20th anniversary of the firefighter stair climb he started

David Engler t-shirt wore by Shoreline Fire climbers

Four Shoreline firefighters completed the 2011 Scott Firefighter Tower Climb on Sunday, March 6 at the Columbia Tower in Seattle: Brett Defenbaugh, Sabine Arnold, Andy Holstad and John Henson. (See story).

This year the Shoreline team is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the year that firefighter David Engler “stepped up first” and founded the now annual event on behalf of International Association of Firefighters Union Local 1760. Climbing teams and the volunteer crews from Shoreline will wear special commemorative t-shirts claiming “He Stepped Up First!” – as a statement of pride and gratitude to Engler for his contributions to the event over the years.

Engler first did the Big Climb 20 years ago, when civilians braved the tower in shorts and running shoes. He decided to don full combat firefighting gear, his SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) and do the climb as a firefighter. In the following years, he issued challenges to fellow firefighters to join him. (See event poster.) Thus began the one of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s most successful fundraising events: the Firefighter Challenge Tower Climb.

See previous story by David Engler.