East Helena Firefighter Honors Late Father in Seattle Stairclimb

East Helena volunteer firefighter Brandon McClain is preparing to climb 69 floors of the Columbia Center in Seattle to honor his late father, a man who served the Helena community before dying of cancer 35 years ago.

The climb is part of the Seattle Firefighter Stairclimb, an event where participants wear full firefighting gear to raise funds for blood cancer research. According to reporting from the Daily Dispatch, McClain will not be climbing alone this year; his son will join him, continuing a family legacy that began decades ago in the firehouses of Montana.

For McClain, the fire service has always felt like home. His earliest memories are rooted in the sights and sounds of the station, watching his father, Randall Clyde “Randy” McClain, transition from a family man into a first responder.

“Watching him transition from caregiver in a fatherhood role to a caregiver in a hero role was amazing,” McClain told KTVH. “Nothing better than that. It’s like watching your parent turn into Superman.”

Randy McClain was a Helena firefighter and a father of two. He died from lymphoma on Oct. 1, 1991, at the age of 33, leaving Brandon and his younger brother, Ryan, behind. KTVH reported that even while battling illness, Randy remained an active presence in the community, teaching CPR classes and participating in emergency services days.

Retired Helena Fire Department Captain Brian Roberts noted the lasting impact of Randy’s work ethic. Roberts, who worked briefly with Randy, said that despite his sickness, Randy continued to show up for his duties, serving as an inspiration to those around him.

When Randy McClain’s health declined, the community he served organized to help. In 1991, a cancer benefit was held for him at Memorial Park in Helena, an event documented by KTVH through photographs that Brandon still keeps today.

McClain Stair Competition — Photo: ktvh.com

The scale of the community’s grief was visible during his funeral. Brandon recalled a massive procession of vehicles stretching between Helena and East Helena.

“One of my last memories ever about the funeral was just the amount of cars that was in the procession,” McClain said.

The support did not end with the service. Brandon told KTVH that the community essentially took care of his family, with members checking in on them and providing meals for an extended period.

The East Helena Volunteer Fire Department remains a central part of McClain’s life. He currently serves as a volunteer there, a role that bridges his past with his present. A plaque honoring Randy hangs in the East Helena Volunteer Firehouse, serving as a permanent reminder of his service.

For more than a decade, McClain has used the Seattle Firefighter Stairclimb as a way to channel his personal loss into a broader mission. By climbing the stairs in full gear, he raises money to combat the same blood cancers that took his father.

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The upcoming climb represents a full circle for the family. As Brandon prepares for the physical toll of the 69-floor ascent, he does so with his son by his side, passing down the same sense of duty and remembrance that defined his own childhood.

“I lost my hero, and the city lost a hero,” McClain said.