Mercer Island Firefighters Take Stairclimb Challenge, Raise Funds for Lymphoma Research

Two members of the took part Sunday in the 20th annual at the Columbia Tower in Seattle.

Firefighters Tommy Guttu and Brent Horschman joined over 1,550 firefighters from a record number of 281 fire departments from 27 states, Canada and New Zealand to raise awareness and funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They climbed 1,311 steps of Seattle's Columbia Tower—the second-tallest building west of the Mississippi.

Guttu, 25, finished in 74th place overall with a time of 16 minutes, 00.23 seconds, while probationary firefighter Horschman—who joined the department this January—finished 188th with a time of 18 minutes, 51.68 seconds. 

The overall winner, Montanan Kory Burgess of the Missoula Rural Fire District, won the climb a third time in a row and set a new event stair climbing record of 10:53.79.

Competitors are required to race fully outfitted in firefighting coat, pants and equipment, including a breathing apparatus. Firefighters are allowed to use two bottles of oxygen on the climb, and bottle changers are staged at specific levels of the tower to help them switch out their tanks.

Last year, the event raised $780,000 for blood cancer research and patient services and this year's event sold out. 

The public stair climb, Big Climb Seattle, will be on March 20.