One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
More on the Hollywood Hills Home Fire: Priceless Art & Ferraris Burned, Victim Unhappy with LAFD Response Time
Photo by chuckmartel via Flickr
More details are coming out about that home that burned in the Hollywood Hills this morning. Among the items allegedly burned were a priceless art collection including works commission by Napoleon Bonaparte and a Faberge egg, according to KTLA, who spoke to the owner, lawyer Brian Witzer. Additionally, a multi-million dollar Ferrari collection was damaged. An electrical short in a 600-gallon aquarium may have started the fire, Witzer believes. He also told KTLA that he is upset the the fire department's response time. He says it took them a half hour to arrive, but Los Angeles Fire Department officials say that's not true.
"911 Dispatchers were notified that our Units were on scene less than 8 minutes," said Erik Scott, an LAFD spokesperson.
The fire was first called in at 6:32 a.m. and was knocked down by 7:10 a.m., according to the fire department. The mansion, located at 2047 North Sunset Plaza Drive, is accessed via narrow and windy roads, which are more difficult for fire trucks to navigate.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
