UNITED STATES:A massive fire broke out at Universal Studios film and TV studio yesterday, engulfing one soundstage and burning a New York City street set.
A total of 400 firefighters from several Los Angeles fire departments were battling the blaze, said LA County fire inspector Frank Garrido. He said the fire had been contained to a single structure, the King Kongexhibit, by 9am.
"A total of five structures within the New York exhibit, including one soundstage, were lost," he said, adding that the blaze had started in the backlot area depicting New York City, which was destroyed.
Mr Garrido said about three-quarters of a building housing a King Kongexhibit was destroyed, also a building holding a video vault of original and master versions of old movies. Firefighters removed hundreds of videos but studio chief Ron Meyer stressed that "nothing irreplaceable was lost". He said the film vault, containing film negatives, was not damaged.
Trucks with water cannons doused flames from one soundstage as 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 at about 4.45am local time, but it was not immediately clear what started it.
Building facades meant to look like New York City were charred, and several acres on the 230-acre backlot were burning at one point .
Eliot Sekular, a spokesman for Universal Studios, said damage was confined mostly to the backlot where films and TV shows are shot and not to the adjoining theme park which would remain open.
Universal has been the home of numerous movies over its long history in Hollywood, including horror films and modern-day blockbusters such as Jawsand Back to the Future. Director Steven Spielberg houses his production company on the lot.
Firefighters encountered some explosions from propane tanks, and at one point they ran into water pressure problems on parts of the studio lot, Mr Jacobs said. "There was an issue with water, but that has been rectified."
The cost of the fire's damage has not been determined.
- (Reuters)