This past weekend Serge’s apartment caught fire while he was asleep inside. He made it out safely, but his home was declared a Major Fire Loss by the Red Cross. Nearly everything he owns was damaged by smoke, soot, and water.

This fundraiser will help ease the financial and emotional strain of recovery so Serge can rebuild stability and move forward.

What Happened:

Serge’s apartment caught fire while he was asleep on the couch — less than ten feet from where the fire started in the living room. He woke up to intense heat and suffocating smoke and escaped with nothing but a T-shirt, jeans, and socks. Firefighters believe the cause was electrical. Neighbors called 911 immediately, and thankfully everyone made it safely out of the buildling.

Once the fire was extinguished, the Red Cross assessed the damage and classified it as a Major Fire Loss. The apartment was left completely unlivable. Smoke filled every room, and the air remains heavy with soot and debris.

The Aftermath:

Every single item inside the apartment was affected — either burned, soaked, or coated in soot and debris. Firefighters explained that the soot is carcinogenic, meaning everything that can be salvaged must be thoroughly cleaned before it’s safe to handle.

Over the past several days, we’ve been carefully sorting through what’s left — washing clothing multiple times, cleaning any items that might be saved, and using gloves and masks for safety. While some clothing and personal belongings may be salvageable, most furniture and all kitchen appliances were destroyed by smoke, water, and soot. Serge’s mattress was also ruined and had to be discarded.

Dealing with the aftermath has required us to completely shift our routines — coordinating utilities, organizing storage, replacing lost documents, and tackling hundreds of small details that now fill every day. It’s been exhausting and time-consuming, but we’re taking it one step at a time, doing everything we can to move forward and rebuild some sense of normalcy.

We are still evaluating the damage to Serge’s musical instruments and recording equipment — including guitars, amps, drums, and studio gear.

Personal Losses:

Serge’s apartment wasn’t just a home — it was a museum of music and horror history, a lifetime of collecting and curating rare and one-of-a-kind pieces. His living space was filled with autographed memorabilia, rare vinyl records, horror figurines, and decades of physical media spanning VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray.

He also lost all of his media and audio equipment, including his vinyl player, receiver, tape deck, CD player, Blu-ray player, PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and his entire vinyl collection — a priceless library built over decades.

We’re not seeking help to replace these items — many can’t be replaced — but losing them has been deeply painful because they represented Serge’s identity, creativity, and peace of mind. His home was his sanctuary, filled with music and art, and seeing that space destroyed has been a devastating emotional loss on top of the physical one.

How This Will Help:

This fundraiser will allow Serge to focus on recovering from the fire with a sense of stability, while dealing with the many unexpected challenges that come with a loss like this. From cleaning and sorting to managing utilities, documentation, and basic replacements, it’s an overwhelming process that touches every part of life.

Serge did not have renter’s insurance, so every expense — from cleaning supplies to replacing essentials — is coming directly out of pocket. These funds will help relieve some of that financial strain and provide a foundation while he works through the long process of rebuilding his home and sense of normalcy.

The donations will go toward essentials, cleaning, and recovery costs — giving him the breathing room needed to move forward without the added stress of trying to handle everything at once.

How You Can Help:

Serge would never ask for help himself, but many people who know him have reached out asking how they can support him through this. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will go directly toward helping him rebuild his space, restore normalcy, and find peace after this devastating loss.

Thank you for your kindness and support,

Sara