Surrey fire destroys former home of famous magician Leon Mandrake

A Surrey, B.C. home that was destroyed by fire was the former home of Leon Mandrake or 'Mandrake the Magician,' a local performer known around the world for his magic, illusions and stunts.

Mandrake owned thehouse on thecorner ofGrosvenorRoad andKindersleyDrive before his death in 1993.

Surrey city council considered giving heritage status to the old home anidea first brought before council in 2008, according to city documents.

The home was still being considered for heritage status as recently as May 2015.

Neighbours awoke to seeraging flames and smoke early Sunday morningas the fire spewed ash that could be seen for kilometres.

One witness said the building was slated for demolitionand was thought to be empty.

NeighbourJoshuaDesmaraischarged outside to see if anybody was in the house.

"All I saw was people with dogs and bags piling out of the house... there must have been ten or 15 people. Five orsix big dogs and backpacks anddufflebags and suitcases," saidDesmarais.

He saw one man in a red shirt take off running down the street after a womantold him there was propane in the house.

"It was huge.There must have been 25-foot flames above the roof of thehouse. It was intense," he said.

"It was scary."

With files from Bal Brach