South Bay’s tight-knit music community is grieving the loss of Max Zape, a 62-year-old keyboardist who spent roughly five decades holding down stages with dozens of local bands. Zape died after a house fire at his Chula Vista home on Monday morning. Fire crews pulled him and his 96-year-old mother from the smoke-filled residence and rushed them to a nearby hospital. His mother survived. Zape did not. Friends say the local scene has been left reeling.
How the fire unfolded
Chula Vista firefighters were called just before 7 AM to a home on Loma Lane, just north of East Orange Avenue and near Loma Verde Elementary School, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Crews knocked down the flames, then went inside and pulled two occupants from the house. The paper reports that Zape died later that day and that the medical examiner’s office subsequently confirmed his death. Officials said the fire damage itself was mostly limited to the kitchen, while the rest of the home was hit with heavy smoke damage.
Friends and the local music scene react
To fellow musicians, Zape was the kind of player you wanted on your gig and in your corner. Friends who shared stages with him over the years described a natural talent who moved between jazz, rock and other styles without breaking a sweat. “He could play any genre and it was just natural,” Rodney Drew told ABC 10News. Others remembered his easy laugh and the way he quietly mentored younger players both on and off the bandstand. Those close to him said they hope to organize a music-filled memorial once arrangements are finalized.
Investigation points to accidental cooking
Early findings suggest the tragedy started in the kitchen. Chula Vista fire officials told investigators that all indicators are pointing to food left unattended on the stove as the likely ignition source, Capt. Eric Martinez said, per The San Diego Union-Tribune. Firefighters also had to work their way through decades’ worth of belongings and musical instruments inside the home, a layout that residents and crews said made access tougher during the rescue. The department’s investigation remains open as officials continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the blaze.
Fundraiser and next steps
Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and memorial costs. The page shows $5,355 raised toward a $9,000 goal. Organizers say the money will help Zape’s family with services and related expenses. Friends told ABC 10News that neighbors have been gathering outside the damaged home to mourn and share stories. Officials are asking anyone with information about the fire or any eyewitness video to contact the Chula Vista Fire Department as the investigation continues.
