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Incredibly Grueling, Completely Rewarding: NorthWestern Energy Corrosion Technician Tyler Hackett volunteers with the Race Track Volunteer Fire Department in Butte
The day Tyler Hackett graduated from high school in 2011, he went to the Racetrack Fire Department in Butte, Montana, and signed up to be a volunteer firefighter.
Tyler, who works as a Corrosion Technician for NorthWestern Energy, was in third grade when he watched the Twin Towers fall on Sept. 11, 2001.
“I remember being amazed by what first responders had done and sacrificed that day,” Tyler said. “Out of all those first responders, the firefighters stuck out to me for being the guys going in, when everyone else was getting out.”
Tyler has been a volunteer firefighter ever since, including while he was working overnight shifts and going to school at Montana Tech.
In March, Tyler took part in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb, a fundraiser that challenges firefighters to climb the stairs of a Seattle skyscraper in full gear.
“It’s probably the most grueling thing I’ve done, but it’s also the most rewarding,” Tyler said of the stair climb event.
2024 was the fourth year Tyler participated in the Firefighter Stairclimb, not including a virtual version of the event in 2020. Before heading to Seattle, firefighters fundraise for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Tyler raised more money in 2024 than he has before, thanks in large part to his colleagues at NorthWestern Energy. To fundraise, Tyler purchased a YETI Cooler from a local sporting goods store, for which he sold raffle tickets. NorthWestern Energy Butte Division Community Relations Manager Paul Babb sent an email to all Butte employees about the fundraiser, and Tyler estimates his NorthWestern co-workers purchased about three-quarters of the raffle tickets.
“Thank you to the NorthWestern Energy family, because they crushed it,” Tyler said. “I’m very grateful to everyone who donated.”
Fundraising is a challenge, but the real challenge came in Seattle where Tyler climbed 69 floors, adding up to 1,356 steps or 788 feet of elevation gain. Tyler completed the challenge in 16 minutes and 26 seconds, an impressive time, even if it wasn’t his fastest, which was about two minutes faster.
The Firefighter Stairclimb is held at the Columbia Center, Seattle’s tallest building. Starting at street-level and looking up at the building, the feat seems nearly impossible, Tyler said. But Tyler works hard ahead of time to prepare.
“I try to stay physically fit and work out,” Tyler said.
Of course there aren’t any 70-story skyscrapers in Butte. Instead Tyler runs the stairs at Tech. He also runs sprints and goes for longer runs, all in his firefighting gear.
“I do stairs wherever I can find them,” he said.
The stair climb is meant to memorialize the struggle of patients going through leukemia or lymphoma treatment. And while the climb isn’t easy, it’s definitely worth it.
“When you walk up to the window on the top floor, it is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world,” Tyler said.
