9/11 Memorial Stair Climb next week

WALLACE –– Next week marks 23 years since the September 11 Terrorist Attacks and once again the crews of Shoshone County Fire District #1 will be honoring those who lost their lives with the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. 

Each year, residents and members of the Shoshone County EMS community gather in Wallace, where they utilize the historic Wallace stairway on the city’s southern hillside community to simulate the 110 flights of stairs climbed by the first responders inside the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks. 

The stair climb began as an intimate memorial among a handful of local first responders, but over the years the group began allowing and encouraging others to join. 

“It started with just a group of us going to climb,” SCFD Chief John Miller said. “Then it morphed into us asking ourselves why we weren’t inviting the public or using the event to raise funds for something. And it has grown from there.”

Much like previous years, all the proceeds from the event are donated to the Jeff Welch Memorial Foundation. The foundation benefits Idaho families of EMS personnel who are severely injured or killed in the line of duty. Welch was a lifelong firefighter who passed away in 2019.  

The climb itself can be fairly intense, with warm temperatures and many of the participants completing it in full gear. Miller would like to invite anyone who wishes to participate to come down and join them.  

“We usually do 12 laps on the stairs, which simulates the 110 flights of stairs those guys climbed and then we do a 13th lap for all the people who dealt with the long-term issues and consequences of that day,” Miller said. “We don’t care if you want to just do one lap or the whole thing. If you want to be a part of the memorial, just show up and do whatever you can or want to.”  

This year, Idaho State University, through a grant from AmeriCorps, will be providing food and water during the climb. The event will kick off with a brief ceremony that will also include opportunities to donate to the Jeff Welch Memorial Fund or purchase a special 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb t-shirt.  

“We don’t want to make it about the climb. We want it to be about the day and staying true to the phrase, ‘Never forget,” Miller said.  

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is Wednesday, September 11, at 9 a.m. outside of the Wallace Pool.