Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Members Complete Stair Climb

The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company team of Captain Todd Kelley and Firefighters Ken Boudreau, Steve Petrella, Brian Tomaska and Victoria Williams competed in the 2018 Fight for Air Climb, a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. The team was the second place fundraising team with $7,728.00. Boudreau was third in individual fundraising, with $4,757.00 and Petrella was sixth with $1,858.00.

Boudreau completed the 34 flights of stairs (688 stairs) with a time of 8:48 and was second in his age group while Williams was third in her age group, with a time of 12:01.

Firefighters were required to compete in NFPA compliant structural firefighting gear, which meant climbing with the weight of full firefighting gear, including boots, helmets and breathing apparatus.

This is Boudreau’s 10th and 11th consecutive climbs in Hartford. This year he first climbed with Karin Stewart and Alex Cruz, making a team of a firefighter, paramedic and police officer. Then he put on his firefighter’s gear and climbed with the firefighters. Boudreau has also completed other stair climbs, including the Boston Fight for Air Climb. Held at One Boston Place, it is 41 flights of stairs.

This is Kelly’s second Hartford stair climb and he has competed at the Firehouse Expo and the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference.

The Hartford stair climb, held in one of Connecticut’s tallest buildings, Hartford 21, raised over $146,000 to fight lung disease.

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working on improving lung health and preventing lung disease, according to its website. Founded in 1904 to combat tuberculosis, they are the oldest voluntary health organization.