Rising From Ashes

August 14th, 2009 was a fateful day for three Theodore businesses. In the early morning hours a fire destroyed American Fleet Service and two other operations. Today, AFS is back up and running, but according to the owner, it’s been a struggle. Owner Freddie Goodman says he can’t get the work done that he wants to get done. He says much of the specialized equipment that was destroyed in the fire hasn’t been reimbursed by his insurance company. In the weeks since the fire, he says he's taking all of his new challenges one day at a time.

“We're trying now to treat it as an inconvenience and pick things up a little at a time,” says Goodman. His other business, Fat Boyz Choppers, is gone for good. He says he’s had to lay off three fulltime employees and cut the hours of others. Charred cars and motorcycles can still be found around the shop.

“Stuff that we've drug out of the fire hoping we'll be able to salvage something, or keep it for anything that might come out down the road,” says Goodman. He says he’s been bolstered by the help of people like Bruce Randol. He’s a friend and former shop owner who’s volunteered his time to help out. Goodman says a lot of people have volunteered time, resources and tools to help, but it may not be enough.