$14 MILLION ART COLLECTION DESTROYED IN LOS ANGELES FIRE

A PRICELESS ART COLLECTION WAS DESTROYED IN A MASSIVE FIRE THAT RIPPED THROUGH A 5-STORY, MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MANSION IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS OF LOS ANGELES. THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AROUND 6:30am WEDNESDAY, IN THE EXCLUSIVE 2000 BLOCK OF SUNSET PLAZA DRIVE. FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO NAVIGATE THEIR TRUCKS THROUGH, STEEP, NARROW, WINDING ROADS TO GET TO THE BLAZE WHICH QUICKLY CONSUMED THE PROPERTY. THE HOME'S OWNER, LAWYER BRIAN WITZER, SAYS THE FLAMES DESTROYED A PRICELESS ART COLLECTION, INCLUDING SEVERAL ART WORKS THAT WERE SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED BY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, A FABERGE EGG AND A STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN. WITZER'S MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FERRARI COLLECTION WAS SAVED FROM THE FLAMES. WITZER SAYS THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $14 MILLION. WITZER WAS HOME WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT AND INITIALLY FOUGHT THE BLAZE WITH A GARDEN HOSE UNTIL THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, HE BELIEVES THAT THE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN HIS 600 GALLON WATER AQUARIUM. THE FIRE WAS KNOCKED DOWN WITHIN A HALF HOUR AND IT WAS REPORTED THAT TEN FIRE COMPANIES RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE.