Johnny Mathis’ Hollywood Hills home went up in flames on Monday.
The superstar was not home when he drove up to the house to see the shocking scene at night.
“I just drove up and someone said that there was a fire at the house,” he said. “I was thinking maybe a little fire — big fire.”
Maths, 80, had just returned to his home from a concert in Ohio. His luggage are the only belongings he has left.
The fire started around 5:30 p.m. at the hillside house on Stebbins Terrace, quickly collapsing part of the roof.
Shock: Johnny Mathis had only just flown back into Los Angeles when he was told his home had caught fire
“There’s an indoor pool and a lot of plastic over above,” Mathis said. “The house is totaled, absolutely totaled. There’s nothing left but a few little mementos.”
After hitting it big with numerous hits, Mathis bought this hillside mansion. He’s owned it for 56 years.
His prized piano now sits in the midst of the damage. Firefighters helped to save some of the treasures from Mathis’ successful career.
According to the Los Angeles Times , the home caught fire shortly after 5.30pm, and was put out in about half an hour by more than 40 firefighters
“Any time the fire department arrives on scene, we take all measures to protect property of the residents,” said Battalion Chief Dean Zipperman of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “And due to the fact that neighbors had said something, we immediately got his trophies and some of his memorabilia that’s irreplaceable.”
Investigators said the blaze began in a room filled with aquariums and other electrical equipment.
As arson investigators work on finding the cause, Mathis is counting his blessings and is grateful no one was home when the fire started.
Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the city’s fire department, said a vegetation fire spread to the mansion
“Those are just things, you know?” he said. “I’m a very lucky man. I could have been here, I could have been in bed, I could have had some of the people who help me with the house, so I’m very lucky.”
Johnny Mathis says this is the only home he has ever owned, and it’s still too early to tell if he will rebuild.
Beloved: Mathis, who is touring currently to mark 60 years in the business, has lived here for 56 years
