August 20, 2023 • 18 mins
Mike and Aaron with Fleet Feet talk to Mindy and Boots with Firefighter Tim Gribble about how they've helped fire fighters get proper footwear. Also Linda talks about the successful car show and what's up with Vance Outdoors.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
We always say that this is Rawwhere Boots really likes to run his mouth
a lot. And you love thispart of your job, right, Boots.
You love to talk? Really,this is why you do what you
do. I see student and conductmy whole life. But he loves to
talk. But another thing a lotof people like to do is run or
walk in general. That's why areally big sponsor of Raw is Fleet Feet.
(00:21):
Mike and Aaron are regulars. Theycommit studio with us throughout the year.
And today though, you guys broughtin someone different from the Columbus Fire
Academy and I'm so bummed out.Why how you guys said he was supposed
to come into the studio. Wewant to introduce everybody to Tim Gribble.
I say it, right Tim,and they're like, oh, yeah,
he was going to come in withall of his fire gear but shirtless.
(00:42):
I'm like, we could have madea Raw poster void out of Tim,
Right, Boots, maybe next time. I don't almost see some dudes abs,
what are you talking about? Butour listeners do. We could have
posted that all over place. Yeah, well my friends would have. They
would have eaten that up. Igot that face and bodio for radio.
Oh no, that's it's two ofus. Well, Mike and Aaron.
(01:03):
Why why bring someone from the ColumbusFire Department, the Fire Academy in here
today? What is the relationship withFleet Feet. Well, we decided a
long time ago, when Jeff andI started this venture together that outreach was
really important. Community was really important. So a very natural fit. And
I'm not sure Tim may be ableto explain how Jeff found you guys,
how you found each other, butwe said one of these segments we have
(01:26):
to talk about the Columbus Fire Academy. I've had a lot of friends go
through it. It's an awesome programthat the kids that come out of there,
the men and women the community whoare so well prepared, and we
realize they're a group that really needssome assistance. They're on their foot feed
a lot of the time. Aswell. They could use some good athletic
(01:46):
gear because they're all athletic people.They don't always just have to put the
fire gear on. They're doing alot of stuff outside of having the fire
gear on. So we thought thiswould be a good lunches that's right,
natural fit. So so what doyou do for him. Then you what
do you get them all their shoeswhen or any academy or what takes place?
Well, actually, if you wantto chime in, this is Yeah.
So we meet up with Tim's crewat the fire Academy and we actually
(02:08):
go out there too where they havetheir physical space, and we bring shoes
too. Are they called cadets,Tim? I feel that am I missing
the name? They're not. No, our set, our crew is called
their recruits recruits, a cadet program. But what I'm a part of is
the recruit training now. Yeah,So we bring shoes to them and we
fit them for shoes, insoles,all the above. And we're actually here
(02:29):
this week because we're actually taking itto all of Columbus Fire at the Station
sixty seven on Tuesday and Wednesday.They're all invited to come out for a
fitting for shoes Station sixty seven.Tim, where is that located. It's
down off Wasp West Broad near theold spaghetti warehouse. They used to share
a parking lot until anywarehouse collapsed.Yeah, that's where your union headquarters are,
(02:50):
that's right, the old train station. Okay, so talk about a
little bit about the training that's involvedand what it takes to become a firefighter.
You know, obviously across the countryright now there's a loss of police
officers. Is the same happening withfirefighters. Yes, all of public safety
is taking that hit. COVID reallythinned out our active numbers, not only
here in Columbus, but nationwide.Public safety is taking a huge dip.
(03:15):
It was one of those career fieldsagain both on the police and fireside,
that a lot of people wanted toget into. There's still a lot of
interest there, but the demands ofthe job are so much higher now than
they ever used to be before.For us with Columbus fire there is certainly
the firepiece of it, putting theWest stuff on the red stuff, if
you will. But our medical presenceis so huge in the city. It's
about ninety three percent of our job, and a lot of people throughout Columbus,
(03:37):
and then kind of that greater Columbusarea of the suburbs, they don't
have any kind of primary healthcare,so they're coming out to us for every
single thing. And then when youfactor in the other jobs that we do,
all of the accidents that we respondto, electrical emergencies, extrications,
and the job keeps getting bigger andbigger and bigger, and there were just
fewer people who have that interest inbeing so broad spectrum and what they do.
(03:58):
Do you know, on some callsthey have to have the least going
first before they respond because it getsshot at in Columbus. It doesn't make
the news, but they've been shotat. Our paramedics like gone Cannaby place
over on in the bottoms there behindthe old Clipper Stadium. Before they respond.
They have to send the police infirst to make sure it's a safe
environment. That's crazy to me.And the growing number of calls where we
(04:19):
have to do that, I meanit's crazy. I've been on for ten
years and the number of police assistswe have to have it just grows every
day every year. Talk about thechair on your body and on your feet
and why fleet Feet really helps youout in that capacity. Sure, so,
kind of getting back to Mike's questionof how it all started, I
came down to the academy about threeyears ago as the physical fitness coordinator for
(04:42):
the recruits specifically, and we hada tremendously high number of lower leg injuries
and our academy ranges between thirty threeand thirty six weeks kind of just dependent
on the city budget at the time, it will ebb and flow. But
during that time, if recruits getknocked out of training because of fitness related
injury or even just a fireground relatedinjury, they get recycled into the next
(05:03):
class, and it already takes thosesix to nine months to get them fully
qualified in street ready. Now,if you talk about a medical recycle,
we're talking a multi year process toget one person out on the street.
They still get paid, though,no if they get recycled and there's a
lapse in classes. Last Friday,we graduated our one hundred and seventeenth class,
so we have Class one eighteen rightnow. But if somebody recycled out
(05:25):
of one seventeen and they're waiting forClass one nineteen, they are off.
They roll back to doing whatever theydid. So it's imperative for both the
members and the division that we keepour people as healthy as possible because every
day starts off with an hour toan hour and a half of physical fitness
every day Monday through Friday, rainshine, summer, winter time doesn't matter,
(05:46):
and then it rolls from that rightinto seven hours of fireground training.
There are periods where there's classroom focus, but most of it is out on
the grinder. It is just alarge concrete pad where they're on their feet
all day, every day. Andthe actual fireboots themselves are not made to
support the bodily structure that long.Obviously it works during our runs, which
take anywhere from three to twenty fiveminutes, but from that actual training perspective,
(06:10):
it just really does a number onthe lower body. So we have
to have our people fitted in theright shoes, the right inserts, and
that's where this relationship started. Allright, I think we need to take
a break. Great Boots, wewill hear more about this relationship. This
is Raw Minian Boots on whose Radiosix ten WTVM Power by Tattletale. All
right, interesting conversation on and offcamera. I guess our commercials, Yes,
(06:36):
No, I mean our commercial talk, our talk during commercials. So
we're talking with Tim Gribble from onewhat Columbus Fire Academy and off air we
were talking about we were glad westervillNorth won their first football game my alma
monitor and we were talking about atone point they had the longest losing streak
in the United States of America.And Tim you said you were a football
(06:58):
player, and you guys were onein twenty nine in your years on varsity.
That's right, one years. Butwe did my senior year. You
would have thought it was the SuperBowl. Whould you beat like SHABRIDI or
somebody Cyrus High School? You Cyrusbe Cirrus, a Redman. You got
that one win though, we did. But when you do things like that,
I don't think people really realize howimportant footwear is. And that's where
(07:18):
Fleet Feet comes into play. AndTimmy were talking about the training that gets
involved with being at the academy trainingthese firefighters. How much does it mean
to you guys though at Fleet Feet, Mike and Aaron to help out with
that because firefighters literally save lives andyou're playing a part in that. I
think it's probably one of the mostimportant things that we do. We totally
(07:40):
enjoy supporting our first responders. Actually, Jeff, who's our the other owner
of our business, his father wasactually a firefighter in Worthington. So it's
incredibly important to our company and ourbrand to support those folks, and we
could we wouldn't have it any otherway. We wouldn't. Yeah, if
e ms people and fire people downin Shadyside, Ohio bel Air area,
(08:03):
they they've been firefighting forever. Mywhat would he be? A cousin to
a cousin, second cousin, he'sfirefighting today. And so it's just a
natural fit. I think it's agroup of folks who are do an awful
lot of athletic things that really couldstand as much support, no pun intended,
even on their feet. So it'sit's a very it's very natural.
(08:24):
It's it's something we love doing.I mean, they're great, great people,
great great people. The insuls theboots can't be they always think when
we were kids who had moon boots. Yes, every time I look at
your guys boots, I'm like,they can't be comfortable. But if you
get a set their insoles and theirboots, do you fit their boots like
you fit my shoes when I wentthere? Oh? Yes, I mean
(08:46):
we bring it all, We bringour whole fit process to them. We
don't want them to like, wedon't want them to have a different experience
than what they would have in ourstore. We want them to also,
you know, even recommend if theyhave like police friends or somebody who's in
the middle terry or anything like that, like, hey, check out this
process. They could do it instore for you. We don't want to
skip a beat with that. That'sincredibly important to us. Sure, I
(09:07):
can't imagine them, boots. Ifyou're in a fire scene for eight hours,
it's always a shift change. That'swhen you guys get punked. But
always always five minutes before that daughter'sbirthday and you're still up on the second
floor putting out some fire fireworks dummy, right, so you know, and
then your feet. I bet atthe end of the night, when you
get back to the station, youcur up all the hoses and the next
(09:28):
thing you know, your feet arekilling you. That's right, but now
they're No, I can't imagine.My niece, Kristen is part of the
Columbus Firefighting Academy or the whole Iguess you called the department. Are you
getting more women becoming firefighters? Andwhat would you say to anyone listening right
now to say this is why youwant to be a firefighter? What does
it really mean? Why should peopledo this? Or a career? Yeah,
(09:50):
so kind of taking that in order. We are having a growing number
of women. When I came onwith Class one hundred, we had one
female in our class, and thenthe next two classes after us had none.
The class that graduated on Friday hadthree or four. The class that's
end right now there are another fiveor six, so the numbers are growing.
It it does kind of ebb andflow based off the testing process,
(10:11):
but we're very lucky and clumps tohave such a large diverse force that everybody
brings something different to the team,and that is something that I would tell
anybody who's wanted to be a firefightertheir whole life or has never expressed any
interest in it. There is aplace for everyone. In the Clumbest Division
of Fire right now, we havethirty five stations plus or minus because station
(10:31):
one is technically two firehouses combined,but then we have three different units,
so there are literally hundreds of opportunitiesacross the city and the clientele base from
the north end to the south end, and then everything in the middle is
completely different. So there is aspace for everyone, and the jobs are
so completely different. I mean,it is so much more than just pulling
the hose off the back and sprayingthe fire and there could truly be a
(10:52):
home for anybody who has the slightestinterests. All we ask for hard work
and a heart to serve and thenwe can do the rest. Have to
be eighteen to start the process.How old can't you be? That's good.
In Columbus we do not have anage cap. We are, I
believe, the only fire department inthe state. I could be off on
that. I would certainly one afew in the country that don't put an
upper end age cap on it.So like a seventy year old guy,
(11:15):
if he could pass all the physicals, he has a chance. That's right,
because you can even do it.Maybe thanks I can't pass it,
there's a spot for you. AndI mean, I'll tell you what.
The good thing about being fireman anddoing a lot of rye alongs with these
guys, They have a lot offun downtime. But the bad thing is
when they're running, they run hardand it makes up for all the time.
And the bad thing about people thatcriticize everybody, they look at fireman
(11:37):
all I do is sit are andhave lunch and don't do anything and watch
TV. Then I mean, whatare you supposed to do? I mean,
if there's nothing going on. There'snothing going on. But one time
I did a rye along on GreenLawn and we had back to back to
back to back to back. It'snext time I went, we to have
a single call all night and NewYear's Eve. Then this is probably a
busy time of the year two foryou guys. With the heat and humidity
(11:58):
that has to spark some outdoor fires. I mean, honestly, right now,
with the way that the temperature isbroken, things are kind of in
a nice, comfortable lall. Whenthe nineties first hit several weeks ago,
a lot of heat related emergencies forsure, and because the seasons can't make
up their mind and it's you know, spring slash fall. Right now,
the grass is very green, butearlier when it was brown grass everywhere,
(12:22):
there were certainly more grass type firesand things like that. But once the
season shift, that's when we reallysee a big uptick and everything. Once
it gets colder, a lot offurnaces are going to be going The events
haven't been cleaned out, so that'sthat's when a lot of that stuff happened.
So in closing tim what do youwant to say to these guys from
fleet feed for all that they dofor the Columbus Firefighters and the Academy.
I can only speak on behalf ofmyself and our team, but we're so
(12:45):
grateful to work with you guys.We had somebody who graduated on Friday who
said, prior to coming to theAcademy, he never owned a pair of
running shoes, never own a pairof shorts. So when we have you
guys come in and do the educationpiece with it, it's it's truly life
changing. He grew up on afarm, which is awesome, super hard
worker. He would have shown upin work boots, do everything, and
you just can't do that for whatwe're after. So thank you to you
guys. This is they've changed allof our lives, I you know,
(13:09):
and they're probably people at home listening. Their prices are about the same as
any of the big box stores,but you get treated like your doctors fit
your feet as we look at it. But those are the companies you want
to go and support. That's whoyou want to purchase things from because they
know what it takes to make acommunity work. So, guys from Fleet
Feet, where do you go ifsomeone wants their own para shoes? Where
can they go. We've got fourstores and one of them in Bluster now,
(13:31):
so you see it's got a FleetFeet Columbus dot com. You can
hit any of our locations and wecan send you the right spot nearby.
Vance is coming up next the band. It's been a good few weeks with
them, guys. This is RawMinian Boots on News Radio six ten WTVM
powered by Tattletale. See what seewhat Hey? How about this? We're
(13:54):
talking with Fleet Feet. We're gettingready to go to Vances. But we
just found out that they just fittedthe High State Marching band. That's how
cool was that? It's very cool. Now when I look at the band,
I'll have a whole different look straightdown at their feet feed. Check
it out, man, They're they'renot skipping, they're not limping anymore.
Right, Linda Wilson, I hearyou. Guys had a huge successful car
(14:16):
show. It was a very successfulcar show. Can I say the number
one hundred and twenty three thousand,five hundred dollars check made out to Honor
Flight. I'm that exciting a lotof money. Congratulations Sonda. That's great.
You know we've been talking to fleetFeed and all that they do for
the community. Vans is the sameway. Why, in your opinion,
is it's so important to reach outand make a difference to the people who
(14:39):
live right around your stores. Well, it's important for them to understand what
we're what we have in our stores, and how we can help them in
their in their journey, whether it'sarchery or camping or you know, a
firearm to protect themselves. I mean, it was we packed a place.
It was so nice. A foodtrucks. I mean, you know,
(15:01):
we've been done on car shows formany, many, many years, but
having all you guys team up andI wish I could get that made food
trucks. I wish we could getthe people walking through and people just giving
twenties and tens and fives and youknow, and they started April first around
then in that whole time between everyoneinvolved, one hundred and twenty three grand
fills a plane and a quarter ofthe next plane. No, that's awesome.
(15:24):
And Linda, now with colleges goingback in session, I know you
want to keep those college students safe. They really should come out to your
safety training. Do you have anythinggoing on right now for college kids?
Not for college kids, but Ido have a children's fire and safety class
next Saturday that it will be ourfirst one ever ages ten and up.
Boy, the wow, I'll talka little bit about that. Yeah,
(15:48):
how'd you think of that one?Well, there was an incident that happened
in Pennsylvania in April where a bunchof kids were just wandering around with a
gun and nobody did anything and thenone of the kids ended up dying.
So this is something I've been tryingto bring to Vances since I came there
in eighteen, and they're finally lettingme do it. So I'm very excited
(16:11):
that he made my day on thatone because we all have that one story
of a relative or a friend thatfound a firearm and didn't see I didn't
touch him. Dad would have killedme physically, So I didn't touch his
guns. It's a rule, andI think give the more you treach out
say that you won't let you comeinto the schools and do that, some
of them are are starting to.I know a lot of the police departments
(16:33):
are doing that into the schools.Then that's wonderful. So give us the
details on that. In case there'sa mom and dad or a grandparent listening
and they think, you know what, this is a good idea. I
want to do this. What arethe details? Yeah, it's only ten
dollars. It's next Saturday from nineam until eleven am, just in the
classroom, and then if they decidethey want to let their child shoot,
(16:55):
there's an additional hour after that withan additional key. But I think just
this safety information, just you knowwhat to do, what not to do,
and can I situations is important?Can I drop off one hundred dollars
and sponsor ten of the kids thatmay not be able to afford it?
Because there are some kids that getaround bad people with bad guns. Not
all guns are bad, it's thepeople. But do you have any people
(17:15):
can't afford to ten bucks where wecould help you. Oh, we haven't
heard about that yet. Absolutely wewould absolutely do that. He's not going
to turn down your mind. Youwant to do it? I want.
I love that idea. I thinkit's the greatest thing ever because you know,
curiosities what get these kids get introuble with and bad parents? Absolutely,
you know, well, I hopeyou bring that back to classes for
(17:36):
college students though, too. AndI know you did that a while back.
But now the college is in session. You got to keep those students
safe because so much crime goes unreportedthroughout I'm not just talking about a high
state, but college campuses in general. Here's one for you. I've been
wanting to ask you this. Doyou sell bear spray? We do?
Okay? And how much bear spray? And here's what a Columbus PD I'm
(17:56):
not gonna say his name, andI've been having some riff raff hanging around
on her dumpster and stuff. Andhe says, well, don't shoot him,
which I wouldn't. He said,hit him with some bear spray.
They won't come back. I'm like, where do you buy bear spray?
He goes, you should know,Vances, what's a bottle of bear spray?
Run? Nowadays? I have noidea. Oh I'm coming down.
I'm gonna drop my hundred off anddon't get some bear spray. Awesome?
All right, Linda, he doesn'tneed the hair spray beard spray and you
(18:21):
guys cut that off two weeks ago. How do they get hold of you?
Linda Vans outdoors dot Com. Allright, we'll talk to you soon.
This is raw Minion Boots on NewsRadio six ten, WTVN Yeah,
We always say that this is Rawwhere Boots really likes to run his mouth
a lot. And you love thispart of your job, right, Boots.
You love to talk? Really,this is why you do what you
do. I see student and conductmy whole life. But he loves to
talk. But another thing a lotof people like to do is run or
walk in general. That's why areally big sponsor of Raw is Fleet Feet.
(00:21):
Mike and Aaron are regulars. Theycommit studio with us throughout the year.
And today though, you guys broughtin someone different from the Columbus Fire
Academy and I'm so bummed out.Why how you guys said he was supposed
to come into the studio. Wewant to introduce everybody to Tim Gribble.
I say it, right Tim,and they're like, oh, yeah,
he was going to come in withall of his fire gear but shirtless.
(00:42):
I'm like, we could have madea Raw poster void out of Tim,
Right, Boots, maybe next time. I don't almost see some dudes abs,
what are you talking about? Butour listeners do. We could have
posted that all over place. Yeah, well my friends would have. They
would have eaten that up. Igot that face and bodio for radio.
Oh no, that's it's two ofus. Well, Mike and Aaron.
(01:03):
Why why bring someone from the ColumbusFire Department, the Fire Academy in here
today? What is the relationship withFleet Feet. Well, we decided a
long time ago, when Jeff andI started this venture together that outreach was
really important. Community was really important. So a very natural fit. And
I'm not sure Tim may be ableto explain how Jeff found you guys,
how you found each other, butwe said one of these segments we have
(01:26):
to talk about the Columbus Fire Academy. I've had a lot of friends go
through it. It's an awesome programthat the kids that come out of there,
the men and women the community whoare so well prepared, and we
realize they're a group that really needssome assistance. They're on their foot feed
a lot of the time. Aswell. They could use some good athletic
(01:46):
gear because they're all athletic people.They don't always just have to put the
fire gear on. They're doing alot of stuff outside of having the fire
gear on. So we thought thiswould be a good lunches that's right,
natural fit. So so what doyou do for him. Then you what
do you get them all their shoeswhen or any academy or what takes place?
Well, actually, if you wantto chime in, this is Yeah.
So we meet up with Tim's crewat the fire Academy and we actually
(02:08):
go out there too where they havetheir physical space, and we bring shoes
too. Are they called cadets,Tim? I feel that am I missing
the name? They're not. No, our set, our crew is called
their recruits recruits, a cadet program. But what I'm a part of is
the recruit training now. Yeah,So we bring shoes to them and we
fit them for shoes, insoles,all the above. And we're actually here
(02:29):
this week because we're actually taking itto all of Columbus Fire at the Station
sixty seven on Tuesday and Wednesday.They're all invited to come out for a
fitting for shoes Station sixty seven.Tim, where is that located. It's
down off Wasp West Broad near theold spaghetti warehouse. They used to share
a parking lot until anywarehouse collapsed.Yeah, that's where your union headquarters are,
(02:50):
that's right, the old train station. Okay, so talk about a
little bit about the training that's involvedand what it takes to become a firefighter.
You know, obviously across the countryright now there's a loss of police
officers. Is the same happening withfirefighters. Yes, all of public safety
is taking that hit. COVID reallythinned out our active numbers, not only
here in Columbus, but nationwide.Public safety is taking a huge dip.
(03:15):
It was one of those career fieldsagain both on the police and fireside,
that a lot of people wanted toget into. There's still a lot of
interest there, but the demands ofthe job are so much higher now than
they ever used to be before.For us with Columbus fire there is certainly
the firepiece of it, putting theWest stuff on the red stuff, if
you will. But our medical presenceis so huge in the city. It's
about ninety three percent of our job, and a lot of people throughout Columbus,
(03:37):
and then kind of that greater Columbusarea of the suburbs, they don't
have any kind of primary healthcare,so they're coming out to us for every
single thing. And then when youfactor in the other jobs that we do,
all of the accidents that we respondto, electrical emergencies, extrications,
and the job keeps getting bigger andbigger and bigger, and there were just
fewer people who have that interest inbeing so broad spectrum and what they do.
(03:58):
Do you know, on some callsthey have to have the least going
first before they respond because it getsshot at in Columbus. It doesn't make
the news, but they've been shotat. Our paramedics like gone Cannaby place
over on in the bottoms there behindthe old Clipper Stadium. Before they respond.
They have to send the police infirst to make sure it's a safe
environment. That's crazy to me.And the growing number of calls where we
(04:19):
have to do that, I meanit's crazy. I've been on for ten
years and the number of police assistswe have to have it just grows every
day every year. Talk about thechair on your body and on your feet
and why fleet Feet really helps youout in that capacity. Sure, so,
kind of getting back to Mike's questionof how it all started, I
came down to the academy about threeyears ago as the physical fitness coordinator for
(04:42):
the recruits specifically, and we hada tremendously high number of lower leg injuries
and our academy ranges between thirty threeand thirty six weeks kind of just dependent
on the city budget at the time, it will ebb and flow. But
during that time, if recruits getknocked out of training because of fitness related
injury or even just a fireground relatedinjury, they get recycled into the next
(05:03):
class, and it already takes thosesix to nine months to get them fully
qualified in street ready. Now,if you talk about a medical recycle,
we're talking a multi year process toget one person out on the street.
They still get paid, though,no if they get recycled and there's a
lapse in classes. Last Friday,we graduated our one hundred and seventeenth class,
so we have Class one eighteen rightnow. But if somebody recycled out
(05:25):
of one seventeen and they're waiting forClass one nineteen, they are off.
They roll back to doing whatever theydid. So it's imperative for both the
members and the division that we keepour people as healthy as possible because every
day starts off with an hour toan hour and a half of physical fitness
every day Monday through Friday, rainshine, summer, winter time doesn't matter,
(05:46):
and then it rolls from that rightinto seven hours of fireground training.
There are periods where there's classroom focus, but most of it is out on
the grinder. It is just alarge concrete pad where they're on their feet
all day, every day. Andthe actual fireboots themselves are not made to
support the bodily structure that long.Obviously it works during our runs, which
take anywhere from three to twenty fiveminutes, but from that actual training perspective,
(06:10):
it just really does a number onthe lower body. So we have
to have our people fitted in theright shoes, the right inserts, and
that's where this relationship started. Allright, I think we need to take
a break. Great Boots, wewill hear more about this relationship. This
is Raw Minian Boots on whose Radiosix ten WTVM Power by Tattletale. All
right, interesting conversation on and offcamera. I guess our commercials, Yes,
(06:36):
No, I mean our commercial talk, our talk during commercials. So
we're talking with Tim Gribble from onewhat Columbus Fire Academy and off air we
were talking about we were glad westervillNorth won their first football game my alma
monitor and we were talking about atone point they had the longest losing streak
in the United States of America.And Tim you said you were a football
(06:58):
player, and you guys were onein twenty nine in your years on varsity.
That's right, one years. Butwe did my senior year. You
would have thought it was the SuperBowl. Whould you beat like SHABRIDI or
somebody Cyrus High School? You Cyrusbe Cirrus, a Redman. You got
that one win though, we did. But when you do things like that,
I don't think people really realize howimportant footwear is. And that's where
(07:18):
Fleet Feet comes into play. AndTimmy were talking about the training that gets
involved with being at the academy trainingthese firefighters. How much does it mean
to you guys though at Fleet Feet, Mike and Aaron to help out with
that because firefighters literally save lives andyou're playing a part in that. I
think it's probably one of the mostimportant things that we do. We totally
(07:40):
enjoy supporting our first responders. Actually, Jeff, who's our the other owner
of our business, his father wasactually a firefighter in Worthington. So it's
incredibly important to our company and ourbrand to support those folks, and we
could we wouldn't have it any otherway. We wouldn't. Yeah, if
e ms people and fire people downin Shadyside, Ohio bel Air area,
(08:03):
they they've been firefighting forever. Mywhat would he be? A cousin to
a cousin, second cousin, he'sfirefighting today. And so it's just a
natural fit. I think it's agroup of folks who are do an awful
lot of athletic things that really couldstand as much support, no pun intended,
even on their feet. So it'sit's a very it's very natural.
(08:24):
It's it's something we love doing.I mean, they're great, great people,
great great people. The insuls theboots can't be they always think when
we were kids who had moon boots. Yes, every time I look at
your guys boots, I'm like,they can't be comfortable. But if you
get a set their insoles and theirboots, do you fit their boots like
you fit my shoes when I wentthere? Oh? Yes, I mean
(08:46):
we bring it all, We bringour whole fit process to them. We
don't want them to like, wedon't want them to have a different experience
than what they would have in ourstore. We want them to also,
you know, even recommend if theyhave like police friends or somebody who's in
the middle terry or anything like that, like, hey, check out this
process. They could do it instore for you. We don't want to
skip a beat with that. That'sincredibly important to us. Sure, I
(09:07):
can't imagine them, boots. Ifyou're in a fire scene for eight hours,
it's always a shift change. That'swhen you guys get punked. But
always always five minutes before that daughter'sbirthday and you're still up on the second
floor putting out some fire fireworks dummy, right, so you know, and
then your feet. I bet atthe end of the night, when you
get back to the station, youcur up all the hoses and the next
(09:28):
thing you know, your feet arekilling you. That's right, but now
they're No, I can't imagine.My niece, Kristen is part of the
Columbus Firefighting Academy or the whole Iguess you called the department. Are you
getting more women becoming firefighters? Andwhat would you say to anyone listening right
now to say this is why youwant to be a firefighter? What does
it really mean? Why should peopledo this? Or a career? Yeah,
(09:50):
so kind of taking that in order. We are having a growing number
of women. When I came onwith Class one hundred, we had one
female in our class, and thenthe next two classes after us had none.
The class that graduated on Friday hadthree or four. The class that's
end right now there are another fiveor six, so the numbers are growing.
It it does kind of ebb andflow based off the testing process,
(10:11):
but we're very lucky and clumps tohave such a large diverse force that everybody
brings something different to the team,and that is something that I would tell
anybody who's wanted to be a firefightertheir whole life or has never expressed any
interest in it. There is aplace for everyone. In the Clumbest Division
of Fire right now, we havethirty five stations plus or minus because station
(10:31):
one is technically two firehouses combined,but then we have three different units,
so there are literally hundreds of opportunitiesacross the city and the clientele base from
the north end to the south end, and then everything in the middle is
completely different. So there is aspace for everyone, and the jobs are
so completely different. I mean,it is so much more than just pulling
the hose off the back and sprayingthe fire and there could truly be a
(10:52):
home for anybody who has the slightestinterests. All we ask for hard work
and a heart to serve and thenwe can do the rest. Have to
be eighteen to start the process.How old can't you be? That's good.
In Columbus we do not have anage cap. We are, I
believe, the only fire department inthe state. I could be off on
that. I would certainly one afew in the country that don't put an
upper end age cap on it.So like a seventy year old guy,
(11:15):
if he could pass all the physicals, he has a chance. That's right,
because you can even do it.Maybe thanks I can't pass it,
there's a spot for you. AndI mean, I'll tell you what.
The good thing about being fireman anddoing a lot of rye alongs with these
guys, They have a lot offun downtime. But the bad thing is
when they're running, they run hardand it makes up for all the time.
And the bad thing about people thatcriticize everybody, they look at fireman
(11:37):
all I do is sit are andhave lunch and don't do anything and watch
TV. Then I mean, whatare you supposed to do? I mean,
if there's nothing going on. There'snothing going on. But one time
I did a rye along on GreenLawn and we had back to back to
back to back to back. It'snext time I went, we to have
a single call all night and NewYear's Eve. Then this is probably a
busy time of the year two foryou guys. With the heat and humidity
(11:58):
that has to spark some outdoor fires. I mean, honestly, right now,
with the way that the temperature isbroken, things are kind of in
a nice, comfortable lall. Whenthe nineties first hit several weeks ago,
a lot of heat related emergencies forsure, and because the seasons can't make
up their mind and it's you know, spring slash fall. Right now,
the grass is very green, butearlier when it was brown grass everywhere,
(12:22):
there were certainly more grass type firesand things like that. But once the
season shift, that's when we reallysee a big uptick and everything. Once
it gets colder, a lot offurnaces are going to be going The events
haven't been cleaned out, so that'sthat's when a lot of that stuff happened.
So in closing tim what do youwant to say to these guys from
fleet feed for all that they dofor the Columbus Firefighters and the Academy.
I can only speak on behalf ofmyself and our team, but we're so
(12:45):
grateful to work with you guys.We had somebody who graduated on Friday who
said, prior to coming to theAcademy, he never owned a pair of
running shoes, never own a pairof shorts. So when we have you
guys come in and do the educationpiece with it, it's it's truly life
changing. He grew up on afarm, which is awesome, super hard
worker. He would have shown upin work boots, do everything, and
you just can't do that for whatwe're after. So thank you to you
guys. This is they've changed allof our lives, I you know,
(13:09):
and they're probably people at home listening. Their prices are about the same as
any of the big box stores,but you get treated like your doctors fit
your feet as we look at it. But those are the companies you want
to go and support. That's whoyou want to purchase things from because they
know what it takes to make acommunity work. So, guys from Fleet
Feet, where do you go ifsomeone wants their own para shoes? Where
can they go. We've got fourstores and one of them in Bluster now,
(13:31):
so you see it's got a FleetFeet Columbus dot com. You can
hit any of our locations and wecan send you the right spot nearby.
Vance is coming up next the band. It's been a good few weeks with
them, guys. This is RawMinian Boots on News Radio six ten WTVM
powered by Tattletale. See what seewhat Hey? How about this? We're
(13:54):
talking with Fleet Feet. We're gettingready to go to Vances. But we
just found out that they just fittedthe High State Marching band. That's how
cool was that? It's very cool. Now when I look at the band,
I'll have a whole different look straightdown at their feet feed. Check
it out, man, They're they'renot skipping, they're not limping anymore.
Right, Linda Wilson, I hearyou. Guys had a huge successful car
(14:16):
show. It was a very successfulcar show. Can I say the number
one hundred and twenty three thousand,five hundred dollars check made out to Honor
Flight. I'm that exciting a lotof money. Congratulations Sonda. That's great.
You know we've been talking to fleetFeed and all that they do for
the community. Vans is the sameway. Why, in your opinion,
is it's so important to reach outand make a difference to the people who
(14:39):
live right around your stores. Well, it's important for them to understand what
we're what we have in our stores, and how we can help them in
their in their journey, whether it'sarchery or camping or you know, a
firearm to protect themselves. I mean, it was we packed a place.
It was so nice. A foodtrucks. I mean, you know,
(15:01):
we've been done on car shows formany, many, many years, but
having all you guys team up andI wish I could get that made food
trucks. I wish we could getthe people walking through and people just giving
twenties and tens and fives and youknow, and they started April first around
then in that whole time between everyoneinvolved, one hundred and twenty three grand
fills a plane and a quarter ofthe next plane. No, that's awesome.
(15:24):
And Linda, now with colleges goingback in session, I know you
want to keep those college students safe. They really should come out to your
safety training. Do you have anythinggoing on right now for college kids?
Not for college kids, but Ido have a children's fire and safety class
next Saturday that it will be ourfirst one ever ages ten and up.
Boy, the wow, I'll talka little bit about that. Yeah,
(15:48):
how'd you think of that one?Well, there was an incident that happened
in Pennsylvania in April where a bunchof kids were just wandering around with a
gun and nobody did anything and thenone of the kids ended up dying.
So this is something I've been tryingto bring to Vances since I came there
in eighteen, and they're finally lettingme do it. So I'm very excited
(16:11):
that he made my day on thatone because we all have that one story
of a relative or a friend thatfound a firearm and didn't see I didn't
touch him. Dad would have killedme physically, So I didn't touch his
guns. It's a rule, andI think give the more you treach out
say that you won't let you comeinto the schools and do that, some
of them are are starting to.I know a lot of the police departments
(16:33):
are doing that into the schools.Then that's wonderful. So give us the
details on that. In case there'sa mom and dad or a grandparent listening
and they think, you know what, this is a good idea. I
want to do this. What arethe details? Yeah, it's only ten
dollars. It's next Saturday from nineam until eleven am, just in the
classroom, and then if they decidethey want to let their child shoot,
(16:55):
there's an additional hour after that withan additional key. But I think just
this safety information, just you knowwhat to do, what not to do,
and can I situations is important?Can I drop off one hundred dollars
and sponsor ten of the kids thatmay not be able to afford it?
Because there are some kids that getaround bad people with bad guns. Not
all guns are bad, it's thepeople. But do you have any people
(17:15):
can't afford to ten bucks where wecould help you. Oh, we haven't
heard about that yet. Absolutely wewould absolutely do that. He's not going
to turn down your mind. Youwant to do it? I want.
I love that idea. I thinkit's the greatest thing ever because you know,
curiosities what get these kids get introuble with and bad parents? Absolutely,
you know, well, I hopeyou bring that back to classes for
(17:36):
college students though, too. AndI know you did that a while back.
But now the college is in session. You got to keep those students
safe because so much crime goes unreportedthroughout I'm not just talking about a high
state, but college campuses in general. Here's one for you. I've been
wanting to ask you this. Doyou sell bear spray? We do?
Okay? And how much bear spray? And here's what a Columbus PD I'm
(17:56):
not gonna say his name, andI've been having some riff raff hanging around
on her dumpster and stuff. Andhe says, well, don't shoot him,
which I wouldn't. He said,hit him with some bear spray.
They won't come back. I'm like, where do you buy bear spray?
He goes, you should know,Vances, what's a bottle of bear spray?
Run? Nowadays? I have noidea. Oh I'm coming down.
I'm gonna drop my hundred off anddon't get some bear spray. Awesome?
All right, Linda, he doesn'tneed the hair spray beard spray and you
(18:21):
guys cut that off two weeks ago. How do they get hold of you?
Linda Vans outdoors dot Com. Allright, we'll talk to you soon.
This is raw Minion Boots on NewsRadio six ten, WTVN Yeah,
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