The Associated Press

PALM BAY, Fla. — Dozens of retired, working and student firefighters from Palm Bay, Malabar and elsewhere raised hundreds of dollars over the weekend for victims of the recent wildfires.

The annual Ladder Climbtook on new meaning this year. Wildfires this month have scorched tens of thousands of acres and dozens of homes this month.

Since 2003, the Ladder Climb has served as an annual fundraising competition between the Palm Bay and Melbourne fire departments to raise money for muscular dystrophy and Zachary's Project, a charity for the ill children of firefighters.

When this year's competition was delayed because of the wildfires, the firefighters decided to donate the money raised this year to the fire victims.

Firefighters say they raised at least $500 and sold several autographed firefighter calendars.