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MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Climbing up and down Comerica Park’s stands can take the wind out of anyone, but what about doing it weighed down by 60 pounds of gear in the burning sun?
Eight Macomb Township firefighters did just that on May 21, running the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb. The event is a fundraiser for the ALA with people across the country scaling skyscrapers and stadiums in the name of furthering lung disease research.
“What makes it unique for us is that part of our climb is we wear full turnout gear, which is 60 pounds worth of equipment,” said Capt. Jason Dumas, of the Macomb Township Fire Department.
Macomb Township firefighters have run in the event since 2012, joining 60 fire departments and nearly 400 runners who put their stair climbing abilities to the test. Macomb Township’s eight runners placed 15th out of all fire department teams, with MTFD firefighter Mike Risk achieving the team’s best time of 21 minutes and 51 seconds. Risk’s time made him the 42nd fastest firefighter of the day.
According to Maureen Rovas, executive director of American Lung Association in Michigan, the 2023 event was the largest showing of firefighters to date.
“Nearly half of our event is made up of first responders and firefighters who come out every year to partake in the stair climb,” Rovas said. “It’s a great way to see their brothers and sisters that are other first responders. Many are here to compete for the firefighter challenge, and many see it as an event to work for their training to have a great climb experience on event day.”
For the firefighters of the MTFD, the primary reason to climb Comerica’s stairs is to raise awareness for the cancers that affect firefighters.
“One of the leading causes of death for firefighters is cancer,” Dumas said. “Whether it’s lung cancer, brain cancer, there’s a number of different cancers that we have a 3 times more likelihood of contracting and becoming fatal. We’re losing firefighters at crazy numbers every year now because of cancer, and it’s a lot to do with the carcinogens we’re exposed to on the job.”
Dumas says stair climbing is a regular part of the department’s training. Stair climbing machines can be found throughout the MTFD’s firehouses, and firefighters train for the climb by using the machines wearing weighted vests.
“Preparing for the climb is something we do,” Dumas said. “We mark it on the calendars so we have something to look forward to and train for, and that helps us in our everyday efforts out on the streets when we’re responding to calls.
“The exposure we get for doing the climb sheds light on the lung cancer research that’s going on that we’re trying to help put in the spotlight. It helps us and we enjoy being able to help showcase that with our career,” Dumas said.
