A firefighter’s marathon, the stairclimb | SLIDESHOW

Every March, the first three floors of Seattle's Columbia Center are transformed from a sophisticated shopping mall to a mixture of hobo camp and refugee center exclusively for firefighters.

Jesse Wise

Jesse Wise

Every March, the first three floors of Seattle’s Columbia Center are transformed from a sophisticated shopping mall to a mixture of hobo camp and refugee center exclusively for firefighters.

They gather each year for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and a grueling competition to see who can ascend the 1,311-step, 69-flight building the fastest.

The Kent Fire Department sent 13 firefighters to the 23rd annual event last Sunday, raising more than $13,000. Firefighters must raise a minimum of $300 to be eligible to compete.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The stairclimb attracted more than 1,500 firefighters from throughout the country, Canada and the world.

Kent firefighter Jessi Nemens, 33, placed second among 138 women with a time of 16 minutes, 22 seconds – 20 seconds faster than her time last year and just nine seconds behind the winner, Jacqueline Palmer of Las Vegas (Nev.) Fire and Rescue.

Andrew Drobeck, 32, of Missoula (Mont.) was the overall men’s winner with a time of 11:05. The top Kent firefighter finisher was Drew Maenhout, 26, who was 175th in a time of 16:52.

Before the climb, firefighters spent the mornings relaxing in alcoves of the Columbia Center, surrounded by piles of turnout jackets, helmets and oxygen tanks. Some lounged on camp chairs and snacked on carbs and protein bars while others mingled and prepared for their climbs by talking to cancer honorees present.

The challenge of the climb, according to Kent firefighter Jesse Wise, comes less from muscle fatigue and more from worn joints. Wise, who runs two marathons a year, says that the stress from the weight bears down on his hips, which is much more difficult than his thighs.

“At the end of the climb it’s not my quads that hurt from pushing off, but my hip flexors,” Wise said.

At the 40th floor, firefighters have the option of changing out their air tanks for a second bottle, but many choose to make the climb on a single tank.

“It’s just like a NASCAR pitstop,” said Brandon Bumpus, who was attempting his first single-tank climb.

While it’s a safer bet than running out of oxygen near the end of the climb – some firefighters simply dash the last three or four floors to the finish line – it also interrupts the rhythm that a firefighter builds during his ascent.

The competition is very real, as is the purpose of the fundraiser, but that doesn’t stop the day from feeling like a giant reunion among professionals. Firefighters stop by to visit each other and check in with old friends.

“It’s neat for me in that I’ve never done this, but I’m seeing people that I worked with, trained with and grew up with,” Bumpus said.

Most firefighters agree that the best part of the day is knowing that they’re benefiting a cause.

“It’s cool knowing that the money you raise goes for research for real people,” Wise said. “That and the elevator ride down, ’cause I was done.”

=====

Kent firefighter top finishers

Jessi Nemens, 138 overall, 16:22

Drew Maenhout, 180, 16:52

Art Weichbrodt, 217, 17:09

Brandon Bumpus, 247, 17:28

Rick Cox, 357, 18:25

Jesse Wise, 465, 18:16

Ian Bird, 675, 20:54

Rudy Figel, 719, 21:18

Nate Strobel, 1,090, 25:26

Joel Willits, 1,126, 25:58

Erin Rhead, 1,475, 36:29




Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Two men face murder charges in 2024 Covington shooting

Incident reportedly started over a stolen bong; 18-year-old man fatally shot

State Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines. COURTESY PHOTO, Legislative Support Services
33rd District Community Town Hall set for Saturday, March 15

Meet Sen. Tina Orwall and Reps. Mia Gregerson and Edwin Obras to ask questions and discuss issues

FILE PHOTO
Sophia Sappa, left, the sister of Gabriel Coury, and their parents Michael and Shellie Coury at a 2023 vigil for Gabriel in Kent. He was killed along 132nd Avenue SE after being struck by a vehicle while riding his scooter.
Project aims to reduce vehicle crashes along deadly corridor

Traffic safety campaign targets 140th/132nd Avenue SE corridor in Renton, Kent, Auburn

t
Kent Police Blotter: Feb. 24 to March 11

Incidents include stolen vehicles, employee theft, police pursuit, shooting

t
Proposal to raise pay for Kent mayor, City Council members

Each scheduled to receive 3.6% cost-of-living increase; mayor’s pay would jump to $219,720 per year

State Rep. Debra Enteman, D-Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Debra Enteman
Debate heats up over Ferguson’s request for $100M to hire more police

House bill sponsored by Kent Rep. Debra Entenman says more than just more officers needed

t
Emphasis patrols in Kent over the weekend lead to arrests

Focus on areas with high crime activity on the East Hill, West Hill and in the Valley

t
Kent Mayor Ralph fights for right to raise sales tax

She says Legislature should help reward Kent for its strong economic impact on state

Photo courtesy of Katherine Haman
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff clean up Caspian tern carcasses during the bird flu outbreak on Rat Island in Jefferson County, 2023.
How to navigate the bird flu in Washington state

“This looks like it might be the new normal,” said Chris Anderson, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Courtesy Photo, King County
Kent man sentenced for killing man who had affair with his girlfriend

Receives 18 years in prison for 2022 stabbing inside Des Moines apartment

t
Kent picks Scenic Hill’s ‘Sabella’ Curtis as Teacher of the Year

Kindergarten teacher says every student ‘deserves a dynamic, engaging and nurturing environment

t
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph to seek third four-year term

Ralph first elected mayor in 2017 and reelected in 2021