A family business was destroyed in the Palisades fire. Most of their clients also lost their homes.
He lost his family The whole plumbing businessand the community they served, from the heartbreaking California wildfires.
The Palisades building, plumbing, trucks and most of their customers' homes are gone, but the owners have not lost their will to continue. They ask that they spread the word to the surrounding communities that they are ready to work.
“We just want work,” Palisades Plumbing co-owner Mandy Church told FOX Business. “My kids have to get paid. You know? We have to survive.”
After moving to the United States in 1985, Mandy Church and her husband Ray Church struggled to make ends meet. They fought racism as Ray Church tried to get a job as a plumber. Eventually, he landed a job at Palisades Plumbing, a company they eventually acquired in 2007.
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It was a family business that quickly became their second home. Ghey is not willing to give it up without a fight.
“I need exposure. I need people to know we're here and we need help,” Mandy Church said.
Palisade Plumbing, a business destroyed in the Palisades fire. (Shawan Ahmadi)
On Wednesday morning, Ray Church, his daughter Shawan Ahmadi and Shawan's husband, Abi Ahmadi, who also worked there, were the first to see the devastation left by the Palisades fire.
“We were very hopeful that the business would still be there … as soon as we walked in and saw the trucks completely burned. We were just devastated,” said Shawan Ahmadi.
Shawhan Ahmadi explained that this was not the only place where he and his wife worked. It was where their children grew up.
“We literally made our office like a home. I had cribs in there. I had mattresses in there for the kids to sleep on high chairs, toys, everything you could get for a baby in the office. Imagine.”
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A before and after photo of the Palisades plumbing before it was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. (Shawan Ahmadi)
Mandy Church and Shawan Ahmadi are not just worried about their livelihood. Their four hardworking employees are also on their minds.
“They have children and families to take care of and we took care of them. We worked together as a family,” Mandy Church said. “I've had them cry here. I feel terrible.”
He estimated they could pay them about a month before the funds ran out.
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Palisade Plumbing, a business destroyed in the Palisades fire. (Shwahan Ahmadi)
Mandy Church is particularly worried about some of her older workers, saying the new plumbing company will send them all over the place if they have to start over. They work 12 hours a day. My children have been working since they were 8 years old. to 4.”
Before the fire destroyed their building, Mandy Church explained that they typically served clients in the Palisades, although they expanded into other communities such as Brentwood, Santa Monica and Malibu.
They are now looking to expand into Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Culver City, Santa Monica, Malibu, Westwood, Brentwood, the entire San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita and Thousand Oaks.
They are also planning to serve the Palisades once they reopen.