Firefighters smoke competition at Seattle stairclimb
Kalispell firefighter Taylor Zachary, left, prepares to compete in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle on Sunday. (Photo provided)
Local fire departments dominated the competition at this year’s annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle last Sunday.
Both the Whitefish and Kalispell fire departments represented Flathead County, with Kalispell firefighter Taylor Zachary finishing 26th out of nearly 1,800 participants. The event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising money through sponsorships, individual and department fundraising and entry fees.
“There’s no other competition like it,” Zachary said, “but the biggest thing is the fundraising.”
A fifth-year competitor, Zachary, 33, joined six of his fellow Kalispell firefighters in a timed race up all 69 floors of Columbia Center of downtown Seattle.
Firefighters from around the world donned a full 35 to 50 pounds of gear and breathing apparatuses to climb 1,311 steps to the top. Zachary reached the finish in 14 minutes and 3 seconds.
Fellow Kalispell firefighter Don Thibert was just a few seconds back to place 32nd overall.
Missoula firefighter Andrew Drobeck won with a time of 10 minutes 58 seconds.
“Boy, it hurts when you finish,” Zachary said. “You’re fighting for air. You’re burning up.”
Zachary said he trains all year for this event, taking his two children for daily 8- or 10-mile runs. Sometimes, Zachary said, he’ll jog the 16 miles from his home in Lakeside to work in Kalispell if he’s “feeling a little extra.”
Zachary said several local firefighters have been affected in some way by leukemia or lymphoma, and for many, the race is a way for them to contribute to the cause.
Representing the Kalispell Fire Department were Zachary (14:03), Thibert (14:10), Jacob Felts (16:16), Jason Schwaiger (17:51), Jake Hall (17:56) and Adam Cliffton (24:42).
Representing the Whitefish Fire Department were Ben Fassnacht (15:02 ), Corey Ledbetter (17:49), Joe Rendahl (18:27), Salvatore Baccaro (18:54), Sarah Peterson (24:48), Cole Hadley (24:55), Heather Lackey (28:01) and Ken Wensel (30:22).
Nicholas Tucker of Evergreen Fire and Rescue finished in 15:55, his first time competing.
Brian Hobday (19:41) and Neil Benson (20:32) represented the Libby Volunteer Fire Department.
Last year the event raised a record $2.3 million.
Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.