After a massive fire damaged one of the busiest freeways in the state, business owners who stored some of their merchandise in the area are assessing the damages left behind.
As the clean up process continues, some downtown business owners want to get as close as possible to see what they can salvage.
“I storage plastic shelves in pallets. The whole thing caught fire,” Manuel Arriagada, a business owner, said. “The flame came from the other side and ended at my business.”
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Arriagada, who manufactures underground sprinkler systems, says the fire destroyed his warehouse.
“I have many projects coming in in the next few weeks and I’m not going to be able to supply it. So it’s a big loss for me. It’s a big loss,” Arriagada said.
Two hundred thousand dollars in equipment gone. And even more was damaged for Rudy Serafin, owner of Serafin Distribution.
“We sell boxes, and bubble wrap and things like that,” Serafin said. “I lost about $800,000 dollars in merchandise, plus my trucks and everything.”
He’s praying the city offers some kind of help to get the impacted business back on track.
“I always try to do the best for my family, give them a good home but it’s tough but I think God will take care of me,” Serafin said.
The owner Alameda Stop N Go Tire said business has been bleak since the fire. George Frias said he normally sees about a dozen customers per day.
"No business, nothing," Frias said. "Yesterday, only two customers.
Alexander Shenouda, a manager at a nearby Shell gas station, said the business shut down for about two days.
"We didn't get any customers," Shenouda said. "Eighty percent, that's how much business we are losing since the fire was raging over there."
While NBCLA was speaking with Shenouda, a member of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corportation stopped by. Mevan Randeniya said his team was assessing damage and business impacts in the area.
"I'm not sure what they want to do or how they will do it, but our job is to assess," Rendeniya said.
The city is asking residents to take public transportation whenever possible. Metro has added additional buses and trains along with alternate routes.
