FIREFIGHTERS RACE TO THE TOP
Early one Saturday morning last October, Sara Nolan walked into the tallest office building in her city. She was wearing a heavy jacket, thick boots and a helmet. Sara is a firefighter, and like all firefighters, she must wear this equipment* every time she goes to a fire. But that morning, there was no fire. Sara and 300 other firefighters were there for an unusual race: the Firefighters' Stair Climb.(lines 1–5)
In the race, each firefighter climbs 80 floors – almost 1,800 steps – as quickly as possible. "Climbing in full equipment is very hard, because a firefighter carries about 25 kilograms of equipment," explains Sara. "We also carry air tanks on our backs, and we must breathe through a mask the whole time. If climbers take off their masks, they are out of the race."(lines 6–9)
The first Firefighters' Stair Climb took place in 1991, in a building with only 50 floors. "But the race was even harder in those days," Sara says. "The climbers didn't have air tanks. Instead, each of them had to carry a long, heavy fire hose on his shoulders all the way to the top."(lines 10–13)
Sara is proud that her city holds a race just for firefighters. "People think that our job is only about putting out fires, but it's much more than that," she says. "Firefighters in big cities like ours must know every street in their area by heart. They must also know how to give first aid. In many small towns, things are different. Most firefighters there are volunteers who have other jobs, and they only come when the fire alarm rings."(lines 14–18)
New firefighters in Sara's city study at a fire academy for eighteen months. They can join a fire station only after they pass a difficult final exam. "It's tough work," says Sara, "but I love helping people on the worst day of their lives. I loved the race, too. Last time, I reached the top in 19 minutes. Next year, I want to do it in less than 15."(lines 19–22)