Massive Fire Rages On Hollywood Studio Lot

More Than 100 Firefighters Battle Blaze Which Destroyed Building, Various Movie Sets

(CBS/AP)  One of Hollywood's largest movie studios starred in a disastrous sequel Sunday as a fire ripped through a lot at Universal Studios, destroying a set from "Back to the Future," a King Kong exhibit and a streetscape seen frequently in movies and TV shows.

It was the second fire at the historic site in nearly two decades, leveling facades, hollowing out buildings and creating the kind of catastrophe filmmakers relish re-creating. This time around, thousands of videos chronicling Universal's movie and TV shows were destroyed in the blaze.

But Universal officials said that they were thankful no one was seriously injured at the theme park and that the damaged footage can be replaced.

"We have duplicates of everything," said NBC Universal President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer. "Nothing is lost forever."

The blaze broke out on a sound stage featuring New York brownstone facades around 4:30 a.m. at the 400-acre property, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said. The fire was contained to the lot, but about 400 firefighters were still trying to put it out several hours later.

A commercial shoot was going on when the fire broke out, studio spokesman Eliot Sekuler said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage was expected to be in the millions of dollars.

The iconic courthouse square from "Back to the Future" was destroyed, and the famous clock tower that enabled Michael J. Fox's character to travel through time was damaged, fire officials said. Two mock New York and New England streets used both for movie-making and as tourist displays were a total loss, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said.

Meyer said that two sets used for CBS's "The Ghost Whisperer" were damaged, and that sets recently used for the Clint Eastwood film "The Changeling" were completely destroyed. That film, starring Angelie Jolie, recently debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

The King Kong exhibit is a stop on the studio's tram tour where the giant ape bellows at passengers and artificial banana scent fills the area, Sekuler said.

All three sites were either damaged or destroyed during another fire at Universal Studios in November 1990. That fire caused $25 million in damage and was started by a security guard who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to arson.

Hundreds of tourists waited outside the gates of the closed park Sunday, which gets about 25,000 visitors on a typical weekend day. Park officials said it would remain closed for the day.

Mike Herrick of San Diego watched the fire on television from his hotel before deciding to return to Universal Studios for a second day with his wife.

"By gosh, we're going to go and get whatever we can out of it," Herrick said. On Saturday, Herrick rode the tram that winds around the studio lot, snapping photos of the King Kong attraction, among other sights.

The fire broke out along New York Street, where firefighting helicopters swept in for drops and cranes dumped water on the flames. A thick column of smoke rose thousands of feet into the air and could be seen for miles.

"It looked like a disaster film," said Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge.

At one point the blaze was two city blocks wide, and low water pressure forced firefighters to get reserves from lakes and ponds on the property.

Several firefighters suffered minor injuries. One firefighter and a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy were slightly hurt when a pressurized cylinder exploded inside the building housing the videos.

Meyer estimated there were 40,000 to 50,000 videos and reels in a video vault that burned but said duplicates were stored in a different location. Firefighters managed to recover hundreds of titles.

The videos included every film that Universal has produced and footage from television series including "Miami Vice" and "I Love Lucy."

Universal Studios, nine miles north of downtown Los Angeles, has thrill rides and a back lot where movies and television shows are filmed, including scenes from "War of the Worlds," "When Harry Met Sally" and "Scrubs." One of the more familiar back lot attractions is the house featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film "Psycho."

Meyer said the park would open at noon Sunday, and on a typical weekend day about 25,000 people visit the theme park. However, tram tours would avoid the King Kong attraction, Sekuler said.

The fire will not affect the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, which is to broadcast live Sunday night from the Gibson Amphitheatre in the adjacent Universal CityWalk, according to the music network.

[rafterman1]

===there are people out there in the world that do wish terror and hurt on people and it is our government who tries to stop that from happening in america.===Posted by bdrlnt4rl

But Sean Penn is not one of them wishing terror on us. He, like millions of Americans, do not believe the war in Iraq and other things the government is doing is making us safe. In fact, we believe it it making the problem worse. So, to be happy that "Hollywood is burning" simply because of different political views is as bad as what the terrorists do - both wish harm on Americans because of politics.

[andor3]

wow.. reading the comments here makes me amazed. I knew posters here tended to be ignorant and aggressive, but I only hope they do not represent any substantial bit of the American population.

For the record, Hollywood is what made America great. Ask someone in a foreign land what they love about the USA and you will hear about TV shows, movies, Dallas, Indy Jones, Disney, ... Hollywood is all about hope and dreams and what connects us all. And that is the same as America.

Of course, there are still the radical, Bush-loving, weirdo, anti-American element who think dreams and hope and play and s e x are bad. These folks are perverts and outliers, finally being ignored and sidelined as the USA moves ahead.

[brianbwb-2009]

I was simply speculating that, for example, the "Back to the Future" set is pretty old, it could have been in need of a major renovation work, so if it is insured for the cost of replacement, (assuming the work will be done at standard union rates for each type of work) they can torch the place, then hire illegal labor at a fraction of the cost, then pocket the difference.

And we''re not talking pennies here.

[fireceos]

Brian,

I may have misunderstood you. You mentioned maintenance work after the fact perhaps being done insufficiantly by illegal migrant workers. I was kind of thinking that maybe the place went up in flames partly due to cheap, illegal labor in the first place. My sincere apologies. Either way, though, you know. Same deal, really.

[fireceos]

Brian, you got a point.

If companies hire illegal aliens, they should not be covered, how about a clause, please. Another drain to the US dollar.

[brianbwb-2009]

"We have duplicates of everything," said NBC Universal President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer. "Nothing is lost forever."

He says that now, but when copies of "the Twilight Zone", and other classic movie scenes and TV shows become "the lost episodes", no one will remember that statement.

I also wonder if this is not a scam to get insurance to pay for major maintenance work, that will be done now below cost by illegal migrant workers.

[brianbwb-2009]

"americans are dirty, filthy, drug infested, std, racist, cop killing, etc,etc,etc, people. when in reality, we are not. lala fairy tail land." Posted by bdrlnt4rl

Yes we are all of those things and more, xenpohobic, intolerant, arrogant, cops who murder, they are a part of the American character, and the less civilized side of what we are not only makes for interesting storytelling, (it sells) but also needs the light of exposure, so it can be controlled.

[michellem99-2009]

I will say they turn out movies that I do like but change the channel don''t go see the movie. Gramma there is good and bad in all churches.
Rifleman1 Amen to ye on bush.
Now I hope the fire is put out and if others are hurt they get well.

[bdrlnt4rl]

nanging3

why dont you start a petition to stop hollywood and their destroying america and its values.

[bdrlnt4rl]

FireCEOs

boy howdy partner! you are so true in your statement! hollywood is the terrorist of the world and they take money from the poor struggling americans who can hardly buy milk for the children and gas to go to work. and sit back and enjoy the riches doing drugs, having *** with everyone, and showing the world that americans are dirty, filthy, drug infested, std, racist, cop killing, etc,etc,etc, people. when in reality, we are not.

lala fairy tail land.

[fireceos]

Geez, now the cost of movie tickets is going to go up too. Good thing I don''t waste my money by going to movies and buying overpriced, underflavored, unhealthy popcorn. Why must people waste their hard earned dollars on such silly things? How about saving for a change?

[nanging3]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/removable-of-father-michael-pfleger

LINK TO PETITION TO REMOVE PFLEGER !!

[bdrlnt4rl]

GrammaWhamma

nanging3

we dont need to sign a petition to get rid of the catholic church, the terroist will do for them. but if it is up to the american government, they will try to protect the catholics right to practice their faith.

[grammawhamma]

Posted by nanging3 at 08:17 PM

Please start a petition to get rid of the Catholic religion!

p.s. Why are we discussing this issue in an article about a Hollywood Studio fire?

[bdrlnt4rl]

Rafterman1

there are people out there in the world that do wish terror and hurt on people and it is our government who tries to stop that from happening in america. i wish everyone respected that protection instead of complaining that the war is in vein. which it is not and i completely respect every man and woman fighting against terror.

[rafterman1]

===guess you are glad sean penn was not hurt in that fire, or any of the other lala fairy tale hollywood cant decipher between reality and real life terror actors.===
Posted by bdrlnt4rl

I don''t wish ill will on anyone - left or right. Especially just because of their political beliefs.

[bdrlnt4rl]

nanging3

they found warehouse that had residu of wmd, they found a whole fleet of war planes carefully buried in the sands of the desert, they caught saddam who loved to tell his army to cut the tongues of children out of their mouths while their parents watched...... and then we have people like Rafterman1, sean penn, shehaan(or whatever her name is)who think we should just forgive and forget, and turn the other cheek so the terror can continue and they take over.

[bdrlnt4rl]

nanging3

they found warehouse that had residu of wmd, they found a whole fleet of war planes carefully buried in the sands of the desert, they caught saddam who loved to tell his army to cut the tongues of children out of their mouths while their parents watched...... and then we have people like Rafterman1, sean penn, shehaan(or whatever her name is)who think we should just forgive and forget, and turn the other cheek so the terror can continue and they take over.

[nanging3]

DID THEY FIND THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ??

SIGNED
UN INSPECTOR STILL SEARCHING

[nanging3]

The comments on the petition site are really amazing...it is said the the Cardinal is actually afraid of Pfleger !!!

Maybe the pope needs a new cardinal in Chicago ???


I though this was the Roman Catholic Church not a circus !!

www.thepetitionsite.com/1/removable-of-father-michael-pfleger


PLEASE SIGN TO RID CHICAGO OF PFLEGER !!