SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (BRAIN) — As of Friday morning, more than 64,000 people have been evacuated because of the 50,000-acre wildfire ravaging the state. For one industry veteran, the fire was especially costly.
Chuck Teixeira, a Specialized Bicycle Components engineer, lost his home in the Bonny Doon area in the Santa Cruz mountains to the CZU August Lightning Complex fire. Teixeira also lost many of his vintage bicycles and cars to the fire. Friend and former co-worker David Koesel started a GoFundMe page Friday with a $100,000 goal to help Teixeira and wife Debbie.
"Truthfully, $100,000 wouldn't scratch the surface on replacing 10% of it," Koesel wrote in an email to BRAIN. "Much of what was lost were rare relics from a lifetime of being involved in the pointed end of performance bicycles and crafting hot rods. Much of the tools were custom made or those that were generations old."
Koesel, head of product development for Kent Bicycles' IBD brands, said the couple was home when the fires closed in. They evacuated on Aug. 19 and returned the next day. Chuck was able to salvage a toolbox and a 1951 Mercury custom car he built.
Teixeira was a longtime Easton Cycling employee, helping engineer its Taperwall handlebars and tubesets. At Specialized, he's responsible for engineering everything from aluminum frames to carbon wheels and is involved in research and development.
"There's nothing he wouldn't do to help me out and many others," Koesel said. "If you ride a bike, love your Specialized, or simply want to help one of the good ones, consider pitching in to aid getting Chuck and Debbie back on their feet."
