What is the registration fee and deadline?
Registration will close on February 10, or as soon as the stairclimb is officially sold out. Entry fee is $60/person which is non-refundable. There will be NO day of event registration.

One of my team members will not be able to compete after all, can I swap in another team member in his/her place?
No. Each person who wishes to compete in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb must register as a new participant and pay the standard entry fee for liability & accountability purposes.

Registration is sold out, but I have some fellow team members who still want to register. What are my options? Is there a waiting list?
No, unfortunately not. The event is actually oversold in anticipation of a small group of firefighters being unable to compete due to illness, travel or other conflicts. Thus, the event is completely maxed out for participation.

How many stairs are there?
1,311 steps

How many flights is the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb?
69 flights

What is the participant limit?
1,500

How long does the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb take?
This depends on each participant's fitness level, speed and the amount of time spent at rest areas. Top racers finish in as little as eleven minutes, while the average participant takes from 20 to 30 minutes to finish.

Are water stops available on the route?
We have designated water stop teams stationed roughly every 10 floors. These stops will be on floor 20, 31, 39, 49, 56, and 65.

I'm traveling from out-of-state and I am having trouble flying with my SCBA. Can I arrange to borrow equipment?
Yes. Scott Health & Safety will have a set number of packs & bottles available for firefighters to utilize during the course of the event. Pre-registration for this equipment is required. Limited quantities are available, so please contact Kris Howard to arrange to reserve your Scott equipment as soon as you register. Each firefighter will still be responsible for their own bunker gear.

When will I receive my battalion start time?
Battalion start times will be posted online on the event website as of Friday, February 19th.

How are battalion start times assigned?
The top 100 racers from 2009 are given automatic placement in the first & second battalion heats. All other participants will be sorted into the different heats randomly, with individuals who fundraised in 2009 receiving priority placement in the earlier battalion heats.

Can my whole department run in the same battalion heat?
Unfortunately no. No more than two members of any given department may participate in the same battalion heat. This rule is applied to ensure your bottle changer is not overwhelmed on Floor 40, and to offer equal opportunity across the board to all departments for battalion assignments.

What if I have a conflict with my assigned battalion heat?
If you have a conflict with your assigned battalion heat, you are responsible for asking another member of your department to switch battalion assignments with you. Your Team Captain will then need to facilitate the change, authorizing LLS to switch the two spots in the battalion database for roll call purposes.

Does my bottle changer need to register?
No. It is not necessary for your bottle changer to register. Each department is allowed 1 bottle changer during the competition. Each bottle changer will receive an event t-shirt for their support. The t-shirts will be delivered direct to the 40th floor and distributed to each bottle changer the morning of the stairclimb.

My bottle changer can only help for half the day, can I arrange to swap in a different bottle changer mid-way through the competition?
Yes. We encourage each department to have a single bottle changer who can arrange to stay on the 40th floor the duration of the event. If this is not feasible for your department, you can arrange to switch bottle changers during the stairclimb. Your first bottle changer will be responsible for taking the elevators to the lobby level to meet their replacement and give them a bottle change ID bracelet.

Does my bottle changer need to be a firefighter?
No. It is completely up to each individual department who they would like to arrange to help assist with their team's bottle change on the 40th floor. We just ask that the individual you select is comfortable and confident with the process.

Can I buy additional event t-shirts?
No. All participants will receive an event T-shirt at check-in, but no additional t-shirts or other merchandise will be available on race day for purchase.

When is the pledge collection deadline?
March, 30, 2010. You can earn great incentives based on the amount you raise.

Where do I turn in offline pledges?
You can turn them in on race day at the main information booth, or mail them to: LLS, Attn: Firefighter Stairclimb, 530 Dexter Ave. North, Ste. 300 Seattle, WA 98109. Please submit this pledge form with your offline pledges for proper crediting. Pledges made online through your fundraising page will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society automatically and you will be credited accordingly. To qualify for fundraising incentives, pledges must be received by no later than March 30, 2010. Don't forget to ask your donors if their company has a matching gift program. This can double or triple your donations without any additional work.

How are team donations handled?
Team donations are equally divided amongst the team members after the event, unless you have contacted LLS directly to have the money divided up in an alternate manner This amount will be added to individual fundraising amounts to come up with participant totals.

How do my donors get tax receipts?
Online donors automatically received a tax receipt immediately after they donate. Offline donors who contribute $75 or more will be mailed a tax receipt. Offline donors who contributed less than $75 may request a tax receipt. Please note this when submitting their donations. Tax receipts will be mailed at the end of April.

Can we practice at the building before the event?
No. Due to safety, security and liability reasons, we cannot allow anyone in the building before the event begins.

Which direction do the stairwells wind?
Counter clockwise

Can I take a camera or video recorder up the stairs with me?
No. The Columbia Center security policy prohibits cameras and video recorders in the stairwells.

Can my friends and family attend the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb?
No. Due to space limitations, no spectators are allowed at the Columbia Center during the course of the competition. Friends and family are encouraged to join firefighters at our post-event party locations.

Is parking available?
FREE parking is available for all event participants and volunteers. The entrance to the parking lot is located on Columbia Street, between 4th and 5th avenues.

Are special hotel discounts available for out-of-state participants?
Yes. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle is our official host hotel for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb. Click here for more information. Rooms will go quickly, we encourage you to make your reservation as soon as possible.