PULLMAN, Wash. – A Pullman firefighter won the annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb on Sunday.
Steve Potratz-Lee, 40, climbed 69 flights of stairs in the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle. He did it in 10 minutes and 55 seconds while wearing his firefighter gear while also being on a limited air supply.
Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Scharnhorst said Portratz-Lee joined the department in 2017. He said he has participated in the climb for the past three years. His first time he took third place, the second he took second place and now he has taken first.
Scharnhorst said Portratz-Lee is a graduate from the University of Idaho where he ran track. He said he remains very athletic. He said the department is very proud of his accomplishment.
The climb helps raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This year the team from Pullman Fire raised over $4,000 and dedicated their efforts to Meg Gollnick, a member of the Pullman Fire family who is battling cancer.
