TJ Phaserman 2 Posted June 1, 2008 LOS ANGELES - A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from "Back to the Future," the King Kong exhibit and a video vault containing more than 40,000 videos and reels. The blaze broke out on a backlot sound stage around 4:30 a.m. Sunday at the 400-acre property, but was contained later in the day, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said. Roughly 40,000 to 50,000 videos and reels were damaged in the vault, but there were duplicates stored in a different location, NBC Universal President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer said. "Nothing is lost forever," Meyer said. The videos included every film that Universal has produced and footage from television series' like "Miami Vice" and "I Love Lucy." Firefighters recovered hundreds of those titles from the vault, Freeman said. The iconic courthouse square from "Back to the Future," was also destroyed, Freeman said, and the famous clock tower that enabled star Michael J. Fox's character to time travel was damaged. 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, studio spokesman Eliot Sekuler said. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Daryl Jacobs said as many as three blocks of movie facades were destroyed, including two mock New York and New England streets used for filmmaking and tourist displays. A commercial shoot was going on when the fire broke out, Sekuler said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Universal Studios is located nine miles north of downtown Los Angeles that has thrill rides and a back lot where movies and television shows are filmed. One of the more familiar back lot attractions is the house featured in "Psycho." Scenes from several blockbuster films and television shows have been filmed at the studios, including "War of the Worlds," "When Harry met Sally" and "Scrubs." 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. More than 100 firefighters try to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby brush. A thick column of smoke rose thousands of feet into the air and for a time helicopters swept in to drop water. Three firefighters had minor injuries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekz 7 Posted June 2, 2008 Fire at Universal Studios Devours Sets By GREG RISLING,AP Posted: 2008-06-02 07:17:18 UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (June 2) - Firefighters patrolled fire-scarred Universal Studios early Monday guarding against flare-ups while authorities wondered if the blaze that gutted some of Hollywood's most famous backdrops was made worse because of low water pressure. Famous Movie Set DestroyedMike Meadows, APA studio set is engulfed in flames during a massive fire at Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., Sunday. The raging blaze, which destroyed the famous courthouse square from "Back to the Future," started before dawn on a sound stage. The massive fire broke out Sunday 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. It then destroyed the courthouse square featured in the film "Back to the Future" and an exhibit housing a mechanically animated King Kong that bellows at visitors on a tram. At one point, the fire was two city blocks wide, and low water pressure forced firefighters to get reserves from lakes and ponds on the property. The blaze was contained to the lot, but burned for more than 12 hours before the final flames were extinguished. "The water pressure situation was a challenge," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said. "This fire moved extremely fast." County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said authorities would investigate the water problems to see if they reflect a larger shortfall in the area, which is part of his district. "There's no question that there was a lack of adequate water pressure at least in the perception of a lot of firefighters," he said. "We're going to find out what the problem was." The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage estimates were not available, but costs are expected to move into the millions. The park was to reopen Monday. 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. Concerns for air quality due to the acrid smoke and a request from fire officials prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to send a chemist to take air samples at the scene, said spokesman Sam Atwood. Results were expected Monday morning. It was the second fire at the historic site in 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 visitors were seriously injured — though several firefighters suffered minor injuries — 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." Two mock New York and New England streets used both for movies such as "Bruce Almighty," ''Spider-Man 2" and "Transformers" and as tourist displays were a total loss, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said. The city streetscape has recently served as a backdrop in television shows like "Monk," ''Crossing Jordan" and "House," said NBC Universal spokeswoman Cindy Gardner. A set used for the Clint Eastwood-directed movie "Changeling" featuring Angelina Jolie also was destroyed, Meyer said. Along with the courthouse square, the famous clock tower that enabled Michael J. Fox's character in "Back to the Future" to travel through time was damaged, fire officials said. Ten people — nine firefighters and a sheriff's deputy — suffered minor injuries in the blaze. The deputy and a firefighter were injured in an explosion in the building where the videos were housed at around 2:30 p.m., authorities said. 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." Hundreds of visitors who waited for hours outside the park gates were turned away Sunday after officials decided not to open the area. On a typical weekend day, about 25,000 people visit Universal Studios. An adjacent shopping promenade also was closed. The MTV Movie Awards, broadcasting live Sunday night from the nearby Gibson Amphitheater, went on as planned. The blaze was believed to be one of the longest-running commercial fires in Los Angeles County history. "It is one of the longest fires to extinguish because of its complexity and size," said county Fire Capt. Mike Brown. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. AOL. 2008-06-01 09:52:25 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A l t e r E g o 9 Posted June 2, 2008 Not mentioned above, the King Kong part of the tram ride was also destroyed. It's pretty bad but you just know it was insured and will be replaced. Lucky it started when it did, could have been much worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TJ Phaserman 2 Posted June 2, 2008 i already posted this one.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekz 7 Posted June 2, 2008 Sorry tj. Normally I spend time checking that something hasn't been posted in Off topic discussions. Of course one of the few times I don't ..... I have visited Universal Studios in both LA and Orlando. As AE mentions, it's likely insured. One TV report this morning said they would be rebuilding parts of it, so that's good news. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rob39874 0 Posted June 3, 2008 has anyone found out what started the fire? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kor37 9 Posted June 3, 2008 has anyone found out what started the fire? Yeah. A working working with a blow torch on the roof of one of the facades started it by accident. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
