Two City of Dalton firefighters took high honors at the 2012 Fight For Air Climb in Atlanta as part of a team that included firefighters from the Chatsworth Fire Department and the Calhoun Fire Department. The team, called the Chatsworth FLAMES, finished second overall in the event on Saturday.
The Fight for Air is a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. In the event, firefighters raced up all 45 floors of the 191 Peachtree Tower building in downtown Atlanta, a total of 1,050 stairs to the top. Firefighters were outfitted in PTE turnout gear, meaning that they wore their helmets, coats and pants with liners, boots and gloves. The only equipment missing from their fire gear were oxygen masks and hoods.
Dalton firefighter Douglas Kerns led the way for the Chatsworth FLAMES team with a finishing time of 8:37. Billy Green from the Calhoun Fire Department was fourth overall at 9:20; Jason Castoe from the Chatsworth Fire Department was fifth overall at 9:21; Jeremy Baird from the Chatsworth FD was eighth overall with a finishing time of 9:50.
The other members of the Chatsworth FLAMES team were Bobby Maton (Dalton FD), Joshua Keation (Chatsworth FD), Scott Fox (Calhoun FD), Timothy Benson (Chatsworth FD), Jonathan Hayes (Chatsworth FD), and Joshua Stafford (Chatsworth FD).
Four members of the Chatsworth team also earned awards in their age groups. Douglas Kerns finished first in the 35-39 group, while Jason Castoe finished second in the group. Billy Green was first in the 30-34 group, and Jeremy Baird was fourth in the 25-29 age group.
The Chatsworth FLAMES team are pictured as a group outside the tower after reaching the top.