Man loses business of nearly 40 years in Stoll Fire

RED BLUFF, Calif. — A man who lost his business of nearly 40 years is one of many that have been impacted by the fires in Tehama County.

70-year-old Robert Funk, also known as Bob, is the owner of Sheet Metal Heating and Air Conditioning in Red Bluff.

He lost his building in the Stoll Fire on Saturday, June 23.

"Well, I wasn't here. I got a phone call. They said it was a fire on Baker Road about half a mile north of me but it was coming this way and so I drove to town. [I] couldn't get near my building and sat back from a distance over to the soccer field at the high school and watched it burn," Funk said.

Funk could only stand there and watch as his building was consumed by flames.

"It's devastating, you know? It's been my whole life for 40 years," Funk said.

As he sifted through the ash and rubble of what's left of his building, he pointed out burned pieces of equipment.

"This is what they call sheet metal brake, which bends sheet metal into whatever you need to build," Funk said.

Thousands of dollars' worth of tools, equipment, records, and documents are gone.

"All I got, my hand tools that were in my truck and parts, and I'm ordering new tools at this time and parts for air conditioner and trying to keep on going," Funk said.

And despite what he's lost, Funk continues to serve those who need him with the few tools he has left.

"I got 40 years of customers out there. Some of them have no air conditioning right now and they need them repaired, so that's what I do, haha," Funk said.

Funk said he doesn't know if he will get a shop up and running again as he said he isn't ready to retire fully and wants to continue to serve his clients.