There will be a total of seven volunteer Corbett Firefighters making the climb up 69 flights of stairs in Seattle's Columbia Tower next month. They will each be wearing approx. 65 lbs. of gear as they make the 788 vertical foot climb up 1,311 stairs. The climb will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and can be supported at www.firefighterstairclimb.org. When Tim Downing, A CPA from Portland, moved to Corbett nearly two years ago, he had no idea that a stair climb would be in his future. Married at the View Point Inn, Tim married Tara, a nurse whom he had actually met the first day of high school at Portland Christian. Tim has two children from his first marriage and together he and Tara have an almost 5 month old daughter. The two had gone to high school together, married others and then reunited after both had divorced. When Tim and Tara moved into Corbett, there was a flyer in their mailbox encouraging locals to become a volunteer firefighter. Tim had no experience, but thought he would give it a try. Tim says that the fire department is like family. He was immediately accepted and the experience has been indescribable. The department has responded to over 400 calls in 2011 and there was an excess of 35,000 volunteer hours put in with both training and call response. Besides appreciating the camaraderie of the fire department, Tim also speaks highly of the gorgeous views he and his family are able to experience from their home. As a CPA, in 2010 Tim started his own practice here in Corbett. He provides tax and accounting services to individuals and small businesses. The name- Columbia River Financial, was a natural, given the area and the view from his home office. He can be reached at www.columbiariverfinancial.com Tim says that it took quite some time to find the "right" home, but now that his family is settled, it sounds as if they will NOT be looking to move any time soon!
