A St. Paul, MN, auto repair shop that has served the local immigrant community for a decade was reduced to ashes in a fire authorities are now investigating as arson. The blaze, which broke out in the early hours of Jan. 11, destroyed SKD Auto Tek, a shop founded by brothers Soe Doh and his sibling.
The fire, which required 60 firefighters to contain, has left Doh devastated. “Too much, you know,” he told local news outlet KSTP. “It’s just heartbreaking for me because this place is, like, I spend more time here than at my own home.”
Security footage reviewed by the shop’s owners captured two masked individuals arriving at the property around 3:10 a.m., one carrying a red container. A minute later, the suspects were seen leaving without it.
“They came in with a gas can; they got out with no gas can,” Doh noted. “We saw that and said, oh man, somebody did this to us.”
Authorities confirmed the case is being treated as an arson investigation. Meanwhile, the fire has left Doh with staggering losses, far exceeding his $50,000 insurance coverage. The flames destroyed essential tools, computers and customers’ vehicles.
The shop has played a crucial role in the community, not only providing affordable car repairs but also helping immigrants and refugees secure jobs. Over the years, Doh has trained workers in mechanical skills and even assisted others in obtaining Commercial Driver’s Licenses, helping them launch careers in trucking.
“He’s put drivers through school that came to work for him,” Dennis Chisholm, a neighbor and longtime customer, told KSTP. “Some left and found they were unhappy working for anyplace else and came back.”
Now, community organizations are stepping up to help Doh rebuild. The Karen Organization of Minnesota, which supports refugees and immigrants, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for replacement tools and equipment.
“We were really devastated to learn that this had happened to his shop, and insurance would not be covering the full cost of the damages,” said Alexis Walstad, co-executive director of the Karen Organization. “A lot of people who work in the shop are from the Karen community as well as a lot of the people doing commercial driving across the country.”
Despite the loss, Doh remains determined to rebuild. “It’s something I’m proud to do, and I will continue doing it,” he said.
To support the rebuilding efforts, donations can be made to a GoFundMe campaign organized by the Karen Organization.
