Twelve Mercer Island firefighters made the dramatic climb to the top of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle on Sunday, March 8, as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Scott Firefighter Stair Climb.

Over 1,500 firefighters from 25 states, Canada, New Zealand and Germany raced the 73 floors (1,311 stairs) from the lobby of the Columbia Center on Fifth Avenue to the observation deck while wearing full gear.

As a team, Mercer Island finished ninth overall with a total time of 42:38. Mark Givens had Mercer Island’s best time of 14:05.35. Barry Collier finished 29th overall, just moments behind Givens, with a time of 14:05.95. Fire Chief Darrel Gordon finished 22nd overall in the chief’s race with a time of 22:26.85.

Stephen Mair, Ray Austin, Curt Groscost, Tom Guttu, Kent Bastrom, Matt Kennedy, Trever Kissel, Scott Logsdon and Darrel Gordon also participated in the event.

Individual MIFD times ranged greatly with Mair, Groscost and Guttu finishing in the top 100. Bastrom and Kissel finished in the top 200, while Logsdon, Austin and Gordon finished in the top 800.

Kory Burgess of the Missoula Rural Fire Department in Montana took home first place with a time of 10:55.