Fire damages Hollywood's famed 'Magic Castle'

A fire caused damage Monday to the "Magic Castle," a historic building in the Hollywood Hills, but nobody was hurt, emergency services said.
 
The blaze in the attic of the building, home of the Academy of Magical Arts, damaged walls but there may also be water damage from firefighting efforts which took an hour to bring the fire under control, they said.
 
"The Magic Castle will be closed tonight... due to the fire that has just occurred. We will post additional details about our re-opening as soon as the damage can be accessed," said a message on its website.
 
The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Maintenance work had been carried out in the building earlier in the day, before the blaze erupted around midday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
 
Ironically, the members-only club was in the middle of a Halloween promotion themed as "Inferno at the Magic Castle."
 
The "Magic Castle" is the private clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts, which is "devoted to the advancement of the ancient art of magic," according to its website.
 
"The purpose of The Academy is to encourage and promote public interest in the art of magic with particular emphasis on preserving its history as an art form, entertainment medium, and hobby," it added.
 
Founded in 1963 with a charter membership of 150, the Academy has grown into a world-renowned fraternal organization with a membership of nearly 5,000 magicians.

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