Part Of Universal Studios IS On Fire!!!

bigbear · 06-01-2008, 01:51 PM

Hey, Everyone

This morning around 4:45am a fire broke out @ the back lot of Universal Studios Hollywood in Studio City, California!! The Back To the Future Movie Set and King Kong Attraction was lost in the four Alarm fire!! I have been to Universal Studios many times and know that place like the back of my hand.

The fire @ this hour is still burning and Universal Studios and there trolley tour is opening late to the fire. The Universal City Walk which our JLH goes walking there sometimes is also been affected by the fire due to smoke. Four fire fighters have been injured fighting the flames. This is a sad day!!

wang · 06-01-2008, 01:56 PM

Probably by someone at Columbia no doubt!

**Trotter** · 06-01-2008, 02:55 PM

Thank-you to Jim for this....

Fire burns at Universal Studios

Several soundstages destroyed; film vault threatened

By Carl DiOrio
June 1, 2008, 11:05 AM

The fire burns Sunday morning at Universal with film sets in the foreground. (Reuters photo)

Firefighters were battling a nasty fire on the Universal lot Sunday morning.

The blaze started on the studio’s huge back lot and quickly burned through Uni’s New York Street. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but a Uni film vault was threatened and several soundstages were believed destroyed or damaged.

Burbank firefighter David Ortiz said that about 200 firefighters and two helicopters had been deployed to assist the Los Angeles County Fire Department.Firefighters thought they had the fire contained, and the nearby Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and Universal CityWalk were not believed to be under any immediate threat.

Thick black plumes of smoke continued to pour from the site, but fire officials said there was no immediate threat of the blaze’s spreading to the brush-covered hillsides surrounding the lot.

**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.

**Trotter** · 06-01-2008, 03:01 PM

One more...

http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/photo_s...003&isP16=true

In the right hand side of the photo you can see the Grandview set .

2 locations on the lot of Ghost Whisperer have been destroyed by the fire.

Thanks again for your help Jim.

It's been a bad day.

**andrew r** · 06-01-2008, 03:04 PM

That is bad news. Firstly that the film sets have gone, and now that parts of Grandview have gone as well. I hope that the fire's put out as soon as it can and that no-one's hurt. Then see about rebuilding the sets.

**Trotter** · 06-01-2008, 03:20 PM

Thank God it looks as if nobody was hurt, set's can be rebuilt life's can't.

**andrew r** · 06-01-2008, 03:22 PM

You're spot on there Dave.

**Trotter** · 06-01-2008, 03:40 PM

Busy night thank-you again to Jim.....

'Ghost Whisperer' sets affected by Universal Studios fire; 'CSI' and 'Desperate Housewives' safe
11:29 AM PT, Jun 1 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Of the television productions filmed on the Universal Studios lot in Universal City, which include "Desperate Housewives," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Life," the only one that seems to have been affected by the fire is CBS' "Ghost Whisperer."

According to a spokeswoman for CBS Paramount, the supernatural drama starring Jennifer Love Hewitt is not filming right now.

"The show is currently on hiatus, and we will evaluate what damage [was done] to some of our exterior sets. However, this will not affect the Season 4 premiere," she wrote in an e-mail.

On KABC's "Eyewitness News," Ron Meyer, the president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios, said in an interview that of the eight locations "Ghost Whisperer" uses on the lot, the fire had affected two of them. "I'm sure they will find a way to adjust for it," he said.

Michaela · 06-01-2008, 03:51 PM

As long as its only material things that have been destroyed, it will all be fine. As said before, they can be rebuilt, and by the time Ghost Whisperer comes back we probably won't be able to tell the difference

angelbunny225 · 06-01-2008, 04:14 PM

OMMMMGGGGGG

OMMMGGGGG

*panic* OMMMG :'(

here's a TMZ vid...thanks to MARO!!
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1582123423

OMGGGG

angelbunny225 · 06-01-2008, 04:17 PM

and this...

O M G

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/06/01...ml#cnnSTCVideo

thanks to maro

on yahoo news they said: BACK TO THE FUTURE LOT WAS DESTROYED!!!

All You Need Is... · 06-01-2008, 04:34 PM

Don't worry,Jim will put it out.

SarahLove · 06-01-2008, 04:34 PM

This is such bad news but I'm so glad nobody got hurt....

angelbunny225 · 06-01-2008, 04:36 PM

JIIMMMMMMmm.....SAVE GRANDVIEW!!!!

omgggg *shaking.....can't...calm down*

SarahLove · 06-01-2008, 04:46 PM

They will be able to rebuild it, don't worry angelbunny....

angelbunny225 · 06-01-2008, 04:50 PM

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

IT'S BY FAR THE CREEPIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN!!!!

bigbear · 06-01-2008, 09:03 PM

^ Angelbunny,

Everything will be ok, we get wildfires in California every Summer! We know how to put out fires here in California!! Thank God some firefighters were only slightly hurt! They have insurance so they will rebuild!! I was shocked @ the news this morning, because I have a season pass to the theme park and have been on the tram tour many times and have seen the sets that were destroyed! Poor King Kong Attraction, during the tram tour,you go inside a building and a fake King Kong shakes the tram!

I feel bad that I broke the bad news, please calm down! It's hard to explain how I feel right now after seeing the sets destroyed that I have grown to love my whole life! The Back To The Future movie set has been there forever and now is gone!

rlm · 06-01-2008, 10:54 PM

i'm saddened to hear that the set of one of my favorite film trilogies is gone. i'm sure they can rebuilt but in some way but the new buildings just won't be the same. these aren't the same sets we saw in the movies just some fakes standing in their place. i got to the see the back to the future set when it was converted for part 2. that was a memorable vacation. they were not filming at the moment but all the futuristic cars and the stores were amazing. the place looked nothing like it had in part 1 or in ghost whisperer. it was just transformed. but yep if they can change a set so quickly to have a new look , its obvious they can rebuilt it again. but like i said , it won't be the same thing.

maybe for GW they can add some newer additions, change it a little. it's kinda funny, i was watching GW the other night and mel was standing at the entrance to an alley way. when i saw that alley i remembered it being the same alley way that doc and marty had parked the delorian and then doc was trying to see the sky conditions to travel. also old bif comes out of a door at some point where he overheard doc and marty talking. things like this are so noticeable. there have been times in earlier episodes where you can see the corner where the diner is located.

JLove · 06-02-2008, 12:07 AM

Sad news indeed. I was actually there yesterday to go on the new Simpson ride. I decided to go on the tram tour, little did I know that a fire was to break out soon later. I saw King Kong for the last time for a while I guess. The earthquake ride wasn't even working. I have a season pass and will return in a couple weeks and see what they will do in terms of the tram tour.

06-01-2008, 01:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigbear Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere In Europe Posts: 2,917 My Profile	Part Of Universal Studios IS On Fire!!! Hey, Everyone This morning around 4:45am a fire broke out @ the back lot of Universal Studios Hollywood in Studio City, California!! The Back To the Future Movie Set and King Kong Attraction was lost in the four Alarm fire!! I have been to Universal Studios many times and know that place like the back of my hand. The fire @ this hour is still burning and Universal Studios and there trolley tour is opening late to the fire. The Universal City Walk which our JLH goes walking there sometimes is also been affected by the fire due to smoke. Four fire fighters have been injured fighting the flames. This is a sad day!!

06-01-2008, 09:03 PM	#18 (permalink)
bigbear Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere In Europe Posts: 2,917 My Profile	^ Angelbunny, Everything will be ok, we get wildfires in California every Summer! We know how to put out fires here in California!! Thank God some firefighters were only slightly hurt! They have insurance so they will rebuild!! I was shocked @ the news this morning, because I have a season pass to the theme park and have been on the tram tour many times and have seen the sets that were destroyed! Poor King Kong Attraction, during the tram tour,you go inside a building and a fake King Kong shakes the tram! I feel bad that I broke the bad news, please calm down! It's hard to explain how I feel right now after seeing the sets destroyed that I have grown to love my whole life! The Back To The Future movie set has been there forever and now is gone! Last edited by bigbear : 06-01-2008 at 09:35 PM.

06-01-2008, 01:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
wang Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 512 My Profile	Probably by someone at Columbia no doubt!

06-01-2008, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trotter JLH Nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 28,922 My Profile	Thank-you to Jim for this.... Fire burns at Universal Studios Several soundstages destroyed; film vault threatened By Carl DiOrio June 1, 2008, 11:05 AM The fire burns Sunday morning at Universal with film sets in the foreground. (Reuters photo) Firefighters were battling a nasty fire on the Universal lot Sunday morning. The blaze started on the studio’s huge back lot and quickly burned through Uni’s New York Street. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but a Uni film vault was threatened and several soundstages were believed destroyed or damaged. Burbank firefighter David Ortiz said that about 200 firefighters and two helicopters had been deployed to assist the Los Angeles County Fire Department.Firefighters thought they had the fire contained, and the nearby Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and Universal CityWalk were not believed to be under any immediate threat. Thick black plumes of smoke continued to pour from the site, but fire officials said there was no immediate threat of the blaze’s spreading to the brush-covered hillsides surrounding the lot.

06-01-2008, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trotter JLH Nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 28,922 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.

06-01-2008, 03:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trotter JLH Nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 28,922 My Profile	One more... http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/photo_s...003&isP16=true In the right hand side of the photo you can see the Grandview set . 2 locations on the lot of Ghost Whisperer have been destroyed by the fire. Thanks again for your help Jim. It's been a bad day.

06-01-2008, 03:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
andrew r Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: England Posts: 31,518 My Profile	That is bad news. Firstly that the film sets have gone, and now that parts of Grandview have gone as well. I hope that the fire's put out as soon as it can and that no-one's hurt. Then see about rebuilding the sets.

06-01-2008, 03:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trotter JLH Nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 28,922 My Profile	Thank God it looks as if nobody was hurt, set's can be rebuilt life's can't.

06-01-2008, 03:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
andrew r Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: England Posts: 31,518 My Profile	You're spot on there Dave.

06-01-2008, 03:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Trotter JLH Nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 28,922 My Profile	Busy night thank-you again to Jim..... 'Ghost Whisperer' sets affected by Universal Studios fire; 'CSI' and 'Desperate Housewives' safe 11:29 AM PT, Jun 1 2008 - Los Angeles Times Of the television productions filmed on the Universal Studios lot in Universal City, which include "Desperate Housewives," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Life," the only one that seems to have been affected by the fire is CBS' "Ghost Whisperer." According to a spokeswoman for CBS Paramount, the supernatural drama starring Jennifer Love Hewitt is not filming right now. "The show is currently on hiatus, and we will evaluate what damage [was done] to some of our exterior sets. However, this will not affect the Season 4 premiere," she wrote in an e-mail. On KABC's "Eyewitness News," Ron Meyer, the president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios, said in an interview that of the eight locations "Ghost Whisperer" uses on the lot, the fire had affected two of them. "I'm sure they will find a way to adjust for it," he said.

06-01-2008, 03:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Michaela Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 158 My Profile	As long as its only material things that have been destroyed, it will all be fine. As said before, they can be rebuilt, and by the time Ghost Whisperer comes back we probably won't be able to tell the difference

06-01-2008, 04:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
angelbunny225 Do you think I'm nuts? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: in the middle of nowhere... Posts: 6,925 My Profile	OMMMMGGGGGG OMMMGGGGG panic OMMMG :'( here's a TMZ vid...thanks to MARO!! http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1582123423 OMGGGG

06-01-2008, 04:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
angelbunny225 Do you think I'm nuts? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: in the middle of nowhere... Posts: 6,925 My Profile	and this... O M G http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/06/01...ml#cnnSTCVideo thanks to maro on yahoo news they said: BACK TO THE FUTURE LOT WAS DESTROYED!!!

06-01-2008, 04:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
All You Need Is... Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Roseville,Minnesota Posts: 2,118 My Profile	Don't worry,Jim will put it out.

06-01-2008, 04:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
SarahLove Sister Of JLH Nut Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 11,090 My Profile	This is such bad news but I'm so glad nobody got hurt....

06-01-2008, 04:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
angelbunny225 Do you think I'm nuts? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: in the middle of nowhere... Posts: 6,925 My Profile	JIIMMMMMMmm.....SAVE GRANDVIEW!!!! omgggg shaking.....can't...calm down

06-01-2008, 04:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
SarahLove Sister Of JLH Nut Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sydenham,London Posts: 11,090 My Profile	They will be able to rebuild it, don't worry angelbunny....

06-01-2008, 04:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
angelbunny225 Do you think I'm nuts? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: in the middle of nowhere... Posts: 6,925 My Profile	OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG IT'S BY FAR THE CREEPIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN!!!!

06-01-2008, 10:54 PM	#19 (permalink)
rlm Member of Sylar's Army Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: tx Posts: 2,068 My Profile	i'm saddened to hear that the set of one of my favorite film trilogies is gone. i'm sure they can rebuilt but in some way but the new buildings just won't be the same. these aren't the same sets we saw in the movies just some fakes standing in their place. i got to the see the back to the future set when it was converted for part 2. that was a memorable vacation. they were not filming at the moment but all the futuristic cars and the stores were amazing. the place looked nothing like it had in part 1 or in ghost whisperer. it was just transformed. but yep if they can change a set so quickly to have a new look , its obvious they can rebuilt it again. but like i said , it won't be the same thing. maybe for GW they can add some newer additions, change it a little. it's kinda funny, i was watching GW the other night and mel was standing at the entrance to an alley way. when i saw that alley i remembered it being the same alley way that doc and marty had parked the delorian and then doc was trying to see the sky conditions to travel. also old bif comes out of a door at some point where he overheard doc and marty talking. things like this are so noticeable. there have been times in earlier episodes where you can see the corner where the diner is located.

06-02-2008, 12:07 AM	#20 (permalink)
JLove Member Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 45 My Profile	Sad news indeed. I was actually there yesterday to go on the new Simpson ride. I decided to go on the tram tour, little did I know that a fire was to break out soon later. I saw King Kong for the last time for a while I guess. The earthquake ride wasn't even working. I have a season pass and will return in a couple weeks and see what they will do in terms of the tram tour.