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Take a deep breath

Firefighters take on lots of stairs for American Lung Association

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Clare Fire Chief Danny Licht, at left, watches as Otho Fire Chief Marty Smith and the other members of his team work out on the stairs at the Otho Fire Station. The firefighters are participating in the American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb in Des Moines on Sunday.

OTHO –For many people, walking up a flight of stairs is an exercise. Walking up several flights of stairs is a great way to lose one’s wind and more than that, it’s the reason elevators were invented.

For a group of firefighters and volunteers who will be going to Des Moines Sunday morning to participate in the annual American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb, it’s something to do to raise money.

Lots of money, lots of stairs.

The four person team from Otho includes Fire Chief Marty Smith, Jodi Smith, firefighter Travis Stanberg and Shawna Schuler.

Clare Fire Chief Danny Licht is doing a solo climb as is Otho firefighter Justin Hayes, both in all four skyscrapers that are part of the event.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

By the numbers, they’re in for a bit of work.

The solo climbers, Licht and Hayes, will have 1,796 steps going up.

Jodi Smith has 371, Stanberg, 464, Marty Smith 324 and Schuler, almost double that at 637, each in a different building.

But it’s not just going up the stairs — the climb is done in full turnout gear.

“We train pretty seriously the last week,” Marty Smith said. “In full gear, boots, bunker pants, coat and SCBA. It adds about 50 pounds.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Otho Fire Chief Marty Smith, at left, cinches up his air pack Tuesday afternoon as he gets ready to for a workout in full gear in preparation for the American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb in Des Moines on Sunday. Fellow team members Jodi Smith, center, and Shawna Schuler, right, get their gear on as well.

Fortunately, there is a flight of stairs in the Otho fire station. They’ve put a bit of wear on it getting ready.

They’re hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s “incident” in which Stanberg hyperventilated.

“They’re not going to try hauling him to the ER,” Smith said. “Last year he tried to die on his way up the steps.”

Smith is planning on surviving, too. At 70, he’s as fit as a 69-year-old.

“I’m sure I am again this year,” he said. “One guy there claimed he was old. He was like 61.”

Hayes is doing all four buildings. He’s a four-time veteran, but this is his first attempt at the entire course.

He downplayed his workout routine.

“I’ve run on the stairs a few times,” he said.

He was quickly interrupted by Stanberg.

“Do you ever actually work?” he joked. “Your truck is always at the Y.”

He is looking forward to one thing when he completes the climb.

“I just want a beer when I get done,” Hayes said.

He missed out on that last year. Ironically, there was a bar on the same floor he finished his leg of the climb on.

“I forgot to bring any cash,” he said. “Nothing on the house, either.”

Licht said he keeps himself in good shape during the entire year. It’s his fifth year for climbing all four buildings.

He comes to Otho to tweak his condition for the climb.

“We don’t have stairs in Clare,” he said. “There is a stair machine, though.”

Neither Schuler or Jodi Smith are firefighters, but they will still make the run in borrowed turnout gear.

“I’m a pretend firefighter though,” Schuler said.

It’s her first year. Does she know what she’s in for?

“No,” she said. “I’m going to take it one step at a time.”

Last year’s climb included about 14 teams from various fire departments.

“We finished about the middle,” Marty Smith said. “We would like to do better.”

Where they have done quite well is in the amount of pledges and donations they’ve gotten this year. Smith estimated that all six have raised more than $1,000.

“That’s not too bad,” he said.

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