Firefighters Charlie Schmidt, left, and John Stewart, both of Vancouver, Wash., fire dept., pick up their gear and head out after resting following racing up 1,311 stairs in competition Sunday in the Columbia Center tower in Seattle. More than 1,000 firefighters from throughout the U.S., as well as Canada and New Zealand, raced 788 vertical feet and up 69 floors in the 17th annual firefighter stair climb at the tower, in a benefit for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You write the cutline.

Top Cutlines

1. No ladies, this is not a good reason to start playing with matches! -- Shannon.

2. Unfortunately, this photo marked the end of DFO's popular Photo of the Day contest. CDA Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel said their switchboards were flooded with calls from flustered Huckleberries regulars who swore they smelled smoke-- and then asked if Fireman Charlie or Fireman John were available -- CindyH. More here

3. Is that all we are to you women, just slabs of sweaty beef-cake? Well maybe you can't see it behind my rippled abs and bulging pecs, but I have a mind and a brain. I am not an animal! -- Machiavelli.

HM: John Austin

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