A family-owned tire shop in South Gate, California, was reduced to rubble after a massive fire tore through the property on May 24, leaving the owner scrambling to rebuild and support his family.
The blaze at Rare Tires along Industrial Avenue generated thick black smoke, prompting shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents and businesses while Los Angeles County firefighters worked to contain the three-alarm fire. By the time the flames were extinguished, little remained of the shop beyond twisted metal and burned debris.
Owner Jonathan Martinez said the business had been part of his family since the 1990s, when his father first opened the shop. Today, Martinez relies on the business as the sole provider for his household, which includes two sons with special needs.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Martinez believes activity near a homeless encampment behind the property may have played a role. He said business owners in the area had previously raised concerns about conditions near the encampment and the risk of fires.
A Family Business Built Over Decades, Gone in an Afternoon
Rare Tires wasn’t a corporate franchise or a chain location. It was a shop where a father taught his son the trade, and where that son eventually took over the operation.
Martinez told KTLA he grew up around the business, learning the tire trade from his father after the shop opened in the 1990s. Over the years, Rare Tires became more than just a workplace. It became the family’s livelihood and a fixture in the local community.
That loss is especially difficult because Martinez is the sole provider for his family, including two sons with special needs. The destruction of the shop didn’t just eliminate a source of income. It erased the business his family spent decades building and left major questions about what comes next.
Martinez said he is unsure whether rebuilding will even be allowed at the location, making the future of the business uncertain as the family works through the aftermath of the fire.
Business Owners Had Raised Concerns Before the Fire
According to Martinez, the area behind Rare Tires has been a source of concern for some time. A homeless encampment sits between a set of railroad tracks and the rear of several commercial properties along Industrial Avenue, including his shop.
Martinez said business owners had repeatedly contacted local officials about conditions in the area, citing small fires, safety concerns, and criminal activity. He told KTLA that while the concerns were acknowledged, he felt stronger action was never taken.
At the same time, Martinez stressed that he understands the people living in the encampment are facing their own challenges. His frustration centers on what he sees as a lack of solutions that protect both vulnerable individuals and nearby businesses.
He now hopes the destruction of Rare Tires will bring renewed attention to the issue and encourage local leaders to look more closely at the conditions surrounding commercial properties in the area.
The Cause Of The Fire Remains Under Investigation
Although Martinez believes activity near the encampment may have contributed to the fire, investigators have not publicly announced a cause or identified a suspect.
Martinez has shared surveillance footage that he says shows an individual who had been a recurring problem in the area. However, authorities have not publicly connected that person to the blaze.
The three-alarm fire required a major response from Los Angeles County firefighters and generated enough smoke to trigger shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents and businesses. No injuries were reported.
As investigators continue their work, many of the key questions surrounding how the fire started remain unanswered.
How People Are Helping Rare Tires Rebuild
With the business destroyed and the future uncertain, Martinez is now focused on supporting his family and determining whether Rare Tires can be rebuilt.
Friends, customers, and community members have rallied around the family in the days following the fire. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover expenses and support the rebuilding effort.
Martinez said he hopes to reopen one day, but for now, the immediate priority is helping his family recover from the loss and finding a path forward after seeing decades of work disappear in a single afternoon.
A GoFundMe page to help Martinez and his family can be found here.