Submitted photos Youngstown native Mick Mahan, 71, sits in front of one of his pizza ovens at his restaurant, Parma Pizzeria in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He and his sons, Michael and Gianni, organized an ongoing effort to make and deliver pizzas to overworked firefighters.

Seeing the California wildfires ravage his state, Youngstown native Mick Mahan knew he had to do something.

The fires, which started Jan. 7 and weren’t fully contained for nearly a month, ripped across the Los Angeles area, fueled by wind and dry conditions.

What started as a brush fire quickly raged out of control, taking with it numerous homes, other structures and at least 29 lives in the Los Angeles metropolitan and San Diego County areas.

Mahan, 71, a bass player for singer Pat Benatar for the past 31 years, owns two pizzerias where he and sons, Michael and Gianni, work.

The three quickly organized an ongoing effort to make and deliver the pies to overworked firefighters. Mahan said they went to Pacific Palisades, sure they’d be turned away, but instead got an escort down Sunset Boulevard to deliver the food.

“Even though the fires are out, their work is not done,” he said of firefighters. “Seeing it on TV is one thing but seeing it firsthand, it’s just really creepy.”

Mahan spoke with this reporter by phone recently, as he commuted from his home in Thousand Oaks to Palm Springs, to visit a friend.

Mahan’s restaurant, Parma Pizzeria Napoletana, has locations in Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills, the latter of which closed for four days because of its proximity to the fire in Calabasas.

He said his neighborhood, surrounded by fire on three sides, lost power for seven days, but he was happy he didn’t have to evacuate.

Mahan said giving back to the community is important to him, a lesson he learned growing up on the South Side of Youngstown.

“Help is everywhere out here,” he said, explaining the local communities have gone above and beyond to help firefighters.

Childhood friend Tom Joseph, 71, of Youngstown, said the two went to St. Dominic Catholic Church and School, and graduated in 1971 from Cardinal Mooney High School. They remain close.

Joseph, who was best man in Mahan’s wedding, called his friend both “wonderful” and “giving,” and said his effort to feed firefighters is honorable.

“That speaks volumes about someone’s character,” he said.

The restaurants, named after Mahan’s mom, Parma, have been featured on both the Cooking Channel and Travel Channel. The Thousand Oaks location opened in 2017, and the Agoura Hills location, nearly three years ago.

He said his mom raised him alone, for the most part, after his dad, a Marine, was killed in 1957. The family was told he was killed by friendly fire, but Mahan said he’s not sure where, and records related to his service and death were never made available or disappeared.

He said he had a good childhood and learned to cook from his friend’s mom, who would often feed the neighborhood.

Mahan, of Sicilian and Irish descent, said he’s studied under several pizzaiolos, or pizza masters, who trained him in dough making for several types of pizza.

He said authenticity is important to him so he dove in, studying the science and chemistry of dough making.

Mahan said he was the first in California, to his knowledge, to offer Detroit-style pizza, and that, along with New York-style, remain his most popular pies.

At one time, he offered Brier Hill-style pizza, but said Californians didn’t get it and “it just didn’t catch on.”

He said his favorite Mahoning Valley pizzeria is Wedgewood, but that he also enjoys Avalon, Lavanty’s, Uptown and Cornersburg.

“But I don’t stray far from Wedgewood,” he said, explaining the Youngstown area is fortunate to have so many quality choices.

His menu is rock ”n’ roll-based, and the walls are covered in guitars and autographs from people including Sammy Hagar. His pies are named after popular songs from iconic artists, such as Benetar’s “Heartbreaker.”

He said Benatar favors his gluten-free selections, but he doesn’t cook for the crew often when they’re on the road, because the bus isn’t equipped for it.

Throughout his musical career, Mahan has toured or recorded with artists including Sheryl Crow, John Fogarty, Steve Miller, Alan Parsons, Barry Manilow, Ambrosia and Rick Springfield.

He studied education, psychology and industrial arts at Kent State University, but said music was his first love. His uncle got him a guitar when he was 10, and Mahan started his first band at 11. Locally, he played in the Great Lakes Band during college but said he knew he had to move west to have a shot at playing professionally.

His schedule with Benatar will take him near Toledo and Columbus this spring, but the band is taking the summer off and hopes to play Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the fall.

The band recently toured with hometown darlings,The Vindys, and he said he’d love to bring the show to the Covelli Centre one day.

Mahan said his foundation, forged in Youngstown, is based on integrity, humility and loyalty. He’s proud to have lifelong friends including Joseph and said the lessons he learned here stayed with him.

“I’m a Youngstown boy, not an L.A. dude, and I was never fooled by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood,” he said. “I was never that guy.”

Mahan said he gets the same feeling making a pizza that he does playing in front of large crowds. Having someone praise his food gives him the same pride as when someone gives his performance a standing ovation, he said.

“I’m equally happy doing both,” he said. “I’ve been so fortunate to have two of my dreams come true.”