An Altadena bike shop owner is still giving back to those affected by the Los Angeles County wildfires after losing his business in the Eaton Fire.
Steve Salinas, owner of Steve’s Bike Shop, was helping hose down the homes of his brother and Altadena neighbors as the Eaton Fire raged through his storefront.
“My brother called me Tuesday night and told me there was a fire in Eaton Canyon. We’ve been through a few fires, so we know what the drills are,” Salinas said. said.
To protect his brother’s home, the business owner closed up his shop and headed three miles northeast into the mountains with his son, Laurie.
More than eight hours later, Salinas drove to his home in Pasadena for a short break before visiting his friend Jimmy Orlandini’s home in Altadena.
“His front yard started burning so we decided to stop it,” Salinas said.
Salinas and Orlandini climbed onto the roof together and began cleaning the house and their neighbors with a hose.
Steve was able to save three homes that night, but was surprised his business didn’t suffer the same fate. The storefront where he had worked for 40 years and dozens of vintage motorcycles were all destroyed in the Eaton fire.
“With all the time we spent looking through the rubble, there are some things we can take home. And some things are molten aluminum, so we can’t take them home,” Salinas said. It’s okay, people lost a lot more. ”
Faced with the ashes of burnt bicycles and tools, Salinas put out a flyer asking for bicycle donations to once again help those in need.
“We are still collecting bikes and giving them to people who have lost everything. Some people who have lost their bikes are using them as a means of transportation, so we are trying to help them. We’re trying to take care of them,” Salinas said. beginning. “
Salinas said he has received more than 100 bike donations from people all over Los Angeles County so far, and was even more surprised when he spoke to NBCLA to find four more bikes left in front of his store. spoke.
Source link
