Missoula Firefighters Climb for Charity
Firefighters in Missoula, Montana, are participating in a stair climb event to raise money for blood cancer research. The event reinforces the role of physical fitness in both public service and team-building activities within the fire service community.
- The event is the annual LLS Firefighter Stairclimb held in Seattle, where firefighters, including teams from Missoula, climb 69 flights of stairs in the Columbia Center. This ascent covers 1,356 steps and 788 feet of vertical elevation. - As the world's largest on-air stair climb competition, the event draws around 2,000 firefighters from various countries and has raised over $28 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (now known as Blood Cancer United) since it began. - Participants climb while wearing full structural firefighting gear and using their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), adding approximately 50 pounds of weight. The heat trapped inside the gear is a significant challenge during the ascent. - The Missoula Fire Department team has a notable history of success at the event, having previously won the award for the fastest team for seven consecutive years. - In response to growing concerns about carcinogens (PFAS) found in firefighting turnouts, the event now includes an open division where participants can climb with just a helmet and SCBA instead of their full gear. - The climb is symbolic of the difficult journey faced by cancer patients, and many firefighters participate in honor of friends or family members who have battled the disease. - Each participating firefighter is required to raise a minimum of $300 to contribute to blood cancer research and patient support services.
