The fire ripped through Paradise displacing tens of thousands including seven employees and a Mariposa County businessmen is trying to help. Red Williams says he is doing all he can to help his seven employees who lost everything in the fire. Pro Lube Oil Change is in Chico, but the workers all lived in Paradise. Tuesday night Williams and others gathered donations and hit the road to deliver them. They drove from Mariposa to drop off goods from clothes to personal items to the employees.
"This has devastated my crew and it has shocked our company. Right now we are just rallying the troops, trying to get all the help we can. Right now most of the load we are taking has come from Mariposa County and those residents know what it means to be evacuated and they've given a lot of help," said Williams.
He says for those employees displaced, staying with extended family isn't even an option because they too are out of a home. Williams says a lot of the temporary housing is taken is also taken. He says he's doing everything within his power to keep them off the streets. Williams says for now he says the shop is closed until he can get all of his employees housing.
Williams plans to deliver more items Thursday. He says told people can drop off items at one of his other businesses the "Pro Shine Car Wash and Pet Wash" in Merced. That's at 23rd and G streets. His "Pro Lube" shops in Modesto, Lodi and grass valley are also accepting donations.
A go fund me page is also setup for those employees who lost their home. Those funds go towards their housing.
The full story, by Amicia Ramsey, with video first appeared on kmph.com
Photo courtesy: Red Williams
