Firefighter Climb Celebrates 20th Anniversary Thanks to Shoreline Firefighter

The Scott Firefighter Climb at Columbia Center, the West Coast’s tallest building, is in its 20th year and will feature 1,550 firefighters from 27 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand.

But the fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, started with one firefighter: David Engler of the Shoreline Fire Department.

In 1987, Engler entered the first civilian event, The Big Climb for Leukemia, and continued in the coming years.

He logged a personal best time of 7 minutes, 47 seconds on the 69-floor, 1,311-step course, during which a person gains 788 vertical feet.

In 1990, he showed up for the event in full firefighter gear: boots, pants, coat with liners, helmet, gloves and breathing apparatus.

In 1992, he decided to “share the fun,” as he puts it, and invited firefighters from 12 departments from the Seattle area to compete on behalf of International Association of Firefighters Union Local 1760. Thirty-two firefighters, with at least one from each department, responded.

About $1,200 was raised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society the first year, growing to $670,000 last year. The total donation over the last 19 years is more than $3 million.

A deputy chief called Engler in the early years of the event and expressed doubts about the wisdom of donning full gear and climbing to the top of a skyscraper, but the event has continued, with times dropping over the years.

Bill Henderson from Kirkland Fire,won the first event in 16:47, and took the title the second year.

But the winning time the first year would not have even been in the top 200 last year, according to Engler.

Last year, two-time champion Kory Burgess of Montana won in 11 minutes, 1.35 seconds.

The climb also honors two leukemia patients this year: Breonia Adam of Stayton, Ore., whose stepfather, Brennan Baker, works for the Stayton Fire District; and Hunter Smith, whose father, Rob Smith, is employed by the Bremerton Fire Department.

To donate visit: www.firefighterstairclimb.org.

Also, on Sunday, March 20, the public will take on the challenge at the 25th annual Big Climb, also benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event is sold out.

Visit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Web site here.