Avon Firefighters Running Through Town In Full Gear (There's A Reason)

AVON, CT — No, you haven't lost your mind, and, even better, Avon's bravest haven't lost theirs either.

There's a very good reason they were seen (and will be seen) running through town in full firefighting gear in coming weeks.

Members of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department spent part of Saturday, March 28, training on local hills as they prepare for the "Fight for Air Climb," a regional stair-climbing fundraiser supporting lung disease research and advocacy.

Firefighters from the department’s Company 4 station on Huckleberry Hill conducted what appeared to be a routine walk.

Still, they were, in fact, conducting a conditioning exercise designed to simulate the physical demands of the upcoming Fight for Air Climb.

The Connecticut chapter event, organized by the American Lung Association, is scheduled for April 25 at Hartford 21 in Hartford.

Participants will climb approximately 688 stairs — roughly 30 floors — with a competitive division specifically for firefighters who complete the climb in full gear.

Department members said the training focused on tackling some of Avon’s steepest terrain to build endurance for the challenge ahead.

“They’re not just doing it for the challenge,” the department said in a public statement. “They’re climbing to support clean air and to raise funds for those living with lung disease — people who are fighting for every breath.”

The annual event raises money for research, education, and advocacy related to conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.

The Avon firefighters are participating as a team and are seeking community support through donations to the fundraiser.

The team will continue training in the weeks leading up to the April 25 climb, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Hartford.

Organizers say the event is open to participants of all fitness levels.

For more information on the 'Fight for Air Climb' in Hartford, click on this link.

To donate to the Avon Volunteer Fire Dept. team in the event, click on this link.