Firefighters from all over the world gathered in Seattle to climb to the top of the Columbia Tower in full combat gear and breathing apparati to raise money for the Lukemia & Lymphoma Society, at the 2009 Scott Firefight Stairclimb on Sunday, March 8. About 1,500 participants, including firefighters from Eastside Fire and Rescue, scaled 69 flights of stairs and 1,311 steps to race to the top of the 788-foot-tall building. The reward for the climb? A bottle of water, and an amazing view.

For more photos, go online to www.issaquah-reporter.com.