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**Trotter** · 06-01-2008, 02:57 PM

Another update thanks to Jim...

Fire burns at Universal Studios

UPDATED: MTV Movie Awards will go on as scheduled

By Carl DiOrio and Reuters
June 1, 2008, 11:05 AM
Updated: June 1, 2008, 01:32 PM
The fire burns Sunday morning at Universal with film sets in the foreground. (Reuters photo)

A nasty fire on the Universal Studios lot was contained by mid-morning Sunday, and the MTV Movie Awards were expected to proceed at the nearby Universal Amphitheater on Sunday night.

Several soundstages were destroyed or damaged in the blaze. But execs said little production had been taking place on the stages.

A total of 400 firefighters from several Los Angeles-area fire departments were battling the blaze, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla, adding that three firefighters were being treated for minor injuries.

Padilla said the fire had been contained to a single structure, the "King Kong" exhibit, by 9 a.m. (1600 GMT) and he predicted the fire would be "knocked down" within hours.

"A total of five structures within the New York exhibit, including one soundstage, were lost," said another L.A. County fire inspector, Frank Garrido, who added that the blaze had started in the back-lot area depicting New York City, which was destroyed.

He said about three-quarters of a building housing a "King Kong" exhibit was destroyed. A building that holds a video vault of original and master versions of old movies had been destroyed and the vault itself had been "compromised."

Ron Meyer, the president of Universal Studios, said, however, that "nothing irreplaceable was lost" in the video vault.

The exact monetary damage had not yet been fully assessed.

Garrido said the studio's theme park and popular City Walk shopping center would be open on Sunday, although tours to the back lot, where the fire occurred, had been canceled.

Television coverage showed trucks with water cannons dousing flames from one soundstage, and smoke poured into the air causing a haze that blanketed parts of west Los Angeles and the Hollywood area.

Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said the blaze was first reported around 4:45 a.m., but it was not immediately clear what started the fire.

Building facades meant to look like New York City were charred, and several acres on the 230-acre (93-hectare) back lot were burning at one point in the early morning hours.

Eliot Sekular, a spokesman for Universal Studios, said damage was confined mostly to the back lot of the studio where movies and TV shows are shot and not to the adjoining theme park.

Universal has been the home of numerous movies over its long history in Hollywood, including modern-day blockbusters such as "Jaws" and "Back to the Future." Director Steven Spielberg houses his production company on the lot.

Los Angeles County and city firefighters encountered some explosions from propane tanks as they fought the fire, and at one point firefighters ran into water pressure issues on parts of the studio lot, Jacobs said.

"There was an issue with water, but that has been rectified," he said.

Helicopters had been brought in to drop water.

Universal Studios, operated by NBC Universal Inc, is a unit of General Electric. The film and TV studio is a sister company to the NBC broadcast network, but NBC's main offices are housed in a separate location in nearby Burbank.

06-01-2008, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trotter JLH Nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 42,028 My Profile	Another update thanks to Jim... Fire burns at Universal Studios UPDATED: MTV Movie Awards will go on as scheduled By Carl DiOrio and Reuters June 1, 2008, 11:05 AM Updated: June 1, 2008, 01:32 PM The fire burns Sunday morning at Universal with film sets in the foreground. (Reuters photo) A nasty fire on the Universal Studios lot was contained by mid-morning Sunday, and the MTV Movie Awards were expected to proceed at the nearby Universal Amphitheater on Sunday night. Several soundstages were destroyed or damaged in the blaze. But execs said little production had been taking place on the stages. A total of 400 firefighters from several Los Angeles-area fire departments were battling the blaze, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla, adding that three firefighters were being treated for minor injuries. Padilla said the fire had been contained to a single structure, the "King Kong" exhibit, by 9 a.m. (1600 GMT) and he predicted the fire would be "knocked down" within hours. "A total of five structures within the New York exhibit, including one soundstage, were lost," said another L.A. County fire inspector, Frank Garrido, who added that the blaze had started in the back-lot area depicting New York City, which was destroyed. He said about three-quarters of a building housing a "King Kong" exhibit was destroyed. A building that holds a video vault of original and master versions of old movies had been destroyed and the vault itself had been "compromised." Ron Meyer, the president of Universal Studios, said, however, that "nothing irreplaceable was lost" in the video vault. The exact monetary damage had not yet been fully assessed. Garrido said the studio's theme park and popular City Walk shopping center would be open on Sunday, although tours to the back lot, where the fire occurred, had been canceled. Television coverage showed trucks with water cannons dousing flames from one soundstage, and smoke poured into the air causing a haze that blanketed parts of west Los Angeles and the Hollywood area. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said the blaze was first reported around 4:45 a.m., but it was not immediately clear what started the fire. Building facades meant to look like New York City were charred, and several acres on the 230-acre (93-hectare) back lot were burning at one point in the early morning hours. Eliot Sekular, a spokesman for Universal Studios, said damage was confined mostly to the back lot of the studio where movies and TV shows are shot and not to the adjoining theme park. Universal has been the home of numerous movies over its long history in Hollywood, including modern-day blockbusters such as "Jaws" and "Back to the Future." Director Steven Spielberg houses his production company on the lot. Los Angeles County and city firefighters encountered some explosions from propane tanks as they fought the fire, and at one point firefighters ran into water pressure issues on parts of the studio lot, Jacobs said. "There was an issue with water, but that has been rectified," he said. Helicopters had been brought in to drop water. Universal Studios, operated by NBC Universal Inc, is a unit of General Electric. The film and TV studio is a sister company to the NBC broadcast network, but NBC's main offices are housed in a separate location in nearby Burbank.