News & Columns > News Staff Member > Big Bear Lake Firefighter Ascends To the Top

Big Bear Lake Firefighter Ascends To the Top

By News Staff Member
Monday, March 9, 2009

Seattle, WA - On Sunday, March 8, Big Bear Lake firefighter Nic Turner, of Station 281, successfully tackled the challenge known as the Scott Stairclimb.

The Scott Stairclimb is recognized as the largest individual firefighting competition in the world and has raised more than $2.1 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its 18-year history.

This year, the climb attracted firefighters from 26 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, as well as firefighters from Europe and New Zealand.

Little Ian is at Columbia Center to support his Dad, a firefighter from Mercer Island, WA. Firefighters from around the world participated in the annual climb to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Sunday, March 8. (Photo by News Staff.)

The day began in traditional fashion, with the first group of firefighters being led up to the staging area by the Seattle Fire Pipes & Drums.

The Seattle Fire Pipes & Drums lead the first group of firefighters from the interior waiting area to the outdoors staging area. (Photo by News Staff.)

In the tradition of the day, the Seattle Fire Pipes & Drums perform, as the first group of firefighters stage for their climb up 69 floors of Columbia Center. (Photo by News Staff.)

Clad in full bunker gear and breathing apparatus weighing approximately 50 pounds, Turner ascended 788 vertical feet—1,311 stairs/69 stories—beginning on the lobby level (4th floor) to complete his climb on the 73rd floor observation deck of the, overall, 76-story building.

Big Bear Lake Firefighter Nic Turner, looking up at the challenge ahead, and looking forward to taking it on. (Photo by News Staff.)

Columbia Center, site of the Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (Photo by News Staff.)

Turner was accompanied on his journey to Seattle by his Big Bear Lake Support Team, also from Station 281. This team consisted of Assistant Chief Chuck Robillard, Captain Jeff Schwing and Firefighter/Paramedic Scott Gehr. While Robillard provided "ground support" for this operation, Schwing and Gehr were busy on the 40th floor assisting with the air bottle exchange necessary for Turner to complete the rest of the climb.

Final inspection of the gear, by Big Bear Lake Asst. Chief Chuck Robillard and Firefighter Nic Turner, before the climb (Photo by News Staff.)

Captain Jeff Schwing and fellow Firefighter/Paramedic Scott Gehr, both from Station 281, work to support Nic in the air supply exchange at the 40th floor. The air supply exchange is necessary for all competing firefighters, in order to complete the difficult climb. (Photo by News Staff.)

While most first-time climbers in this event average 25 to 30 minutes to complete the competition, Turner came in at 21 minutes and 14 seconds. The quickest firefighter to complete the climb came in at 13 minutes 55 seconds.

At the end of the day, Turner and his support team can be proud of their accomplishments.

Results can be found at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website and click on Results.

With the Stairclimb successfully tackled, Nic seems more energized than ever to continue with fund raising events. (Photo by News Staff.)

Just as Turner's efforts to reach his fund raising goal for this event are not yet complete, neither is the battle in dealing with leukemia and lymphoma. RIMOFTHEWORLD.net will keep you apprised of continuing fund raising efforts to assist Turner in insuring that he reaches his target, and that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society reaches their goal.

Turner faced the challenge, now it's time for the rest of us to "Step Up".

See Firefighter "Stepping Up" to Help Caleb for original story.