Singing legend Johnny Mathis' longtime Los Angeles home was devastated in a fire on Monday, the Associated Press reported. The singer returned home from performing at a concert in Cleveland to find his Hollywood Hills mansion in ruins.
"I just drove up and someone said that there was a fire at the house. I was thinking maybe a little fire - big fire," Mathis told local news station KABC.
The fire started at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey told local news station KTLA. Firefighters put the fire out about thirty minutes later and attempted to save some of Mathis' belongings.
"Anytime the fire department arrives on scene, we take all measures to protect the property of the residence," LAFD Battalion Chief Dean Zipperman told KABC. "And due to the fact that the neighbors had said something, we immediately got his trophies and some memorabilia that's irreplaceable."
The 80-year-old singer is known for hits like "Misty" and "Chances Are," and had kicked off a tour in celebration of his 60-year-long career in music earlier this year, according to the AP.
Mathis had lived in the house for 56 years and it's first home he's ever owned. He said it's too early to tell whether he'll rebuild yet or not, but he's grateful that he wasn't home when the fire started.
"I'm a very lucky man," Mathis told KABC. "I could've here, I could've been in bed, so I'm very lucky."
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
