Patrick and Rinat Schürmann (both 38) and their sons (3 and 6) are hoping for a new home Photo: Christian Lohse
By Isabel Pancake
After the terrible apartment fire in Schmargendorf, the Schürmann family found accommodation in a holiday apartment in Bavaria. But now the family is looking for a new place to live in Berlin.
A week before Christmas Eve, a fire broke out in the Schürmann family’s apartment on Orber Strasse (Wilmersdorf). The cause: a defective refrigerator or negligent arson …
“Finding an apartment has top priority”
Over the Christmas holidays, the family of four fled to Bavaria, where relatives live. “The change of scenery did us all good,” says Patrick Schürmann (38). He, his wife Rinat (38) and their two sons (3 and 6) want to return next week. Because: “The search for an apartment is now the top priority.”
Burnt cuddly dinosaurs. Hardly anything remains of the family’s apartment Photo: Christian Lohse
During the search, the young family lives in an Airbnb apartment. Schürmann: “The real estate market is manageable and it’s not that easy in terms of price.”
Almost 25,000 euros donated
Fortunately, help is coming from all sides: the fundraiser for the Schürmann family and the neighbors who were also affected has now raised 24,919 euros. And the Rehfeld property management has also offered support: “Maybe we have an apartment on offer or one that will be available very soon that we can rent to the family.”
The Schürmanns still don’t want to give up the great hope of being able to move into their renovated home in Schmargendorf at some point.