Universal Studios Backlot Ravaged by Fire

ExtremeSleuth

ExtremeSleuth

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Blaze Threatens To Destroy Universal Studios
1 June 2008 7:32 AM, PDT

Movie giant Universal Studios in California is facing devastation after a huge fire ripped through the iconic set of buildings on Sunday.

According to Tmz.com, the Los Angeles City Fire Department has sent 40 squads of firefighters to try to tackle and contain the blaze, which is believed to have started at 5.15am.

The fire has destroyed at least one building and has caused intensive damage to the studio's famous Earthquake movie ride, according to early reports.

There are no reported injuries.

Details as to how the blaze started were unavailable as WENN goes to press.
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/01/studio.fire/index.html

Video at the above link too, under the video tab.

This truly sucks for Universal....
 
Well, it's work for set designers and art directors and construction crew and the support train that goes with that.

Gotta accentuate the positive.
 
Yahoo News just said that the King Kong attraction on the backlot tour most likely was destoryed in the fire as well as a few New York city sets.
 
Thats unfortunate.

The same thing happened (maybe) last year at Pinewood. Destroyed one of their sound stages.
 
King Kong ride, meh.

But the film vault last I heard is on fire. The employees rushed to get canisters of classic films out.

Then again I keep reading different things on the net. But on the local news here in Montreal that's what they were saying.
 
They claim to have copies of all the reels in a separate location, so not too scary on that end. I was bummed to hear about the Back To The Future sets being destroyed, that's the greatest loss so far, imho.


www.zampanophoto.com
 
alveraz said:
They claim to have copies of all the reels in a separate location, so not too scary on that end. I was bummed to hear about the Back To The Future sets being destroyed, that's the greatest loss so far, imho.
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wow that does suck, i hope they got it under control...
 
I didn't know John Landis was working on the lot again. He burned New York down around the time he was doing Oscar. Believe me, Universal will be just fine.

Spielberg had a big hand in redesigning the New York part of the lot after that fire in the 1990s. Hopefully, the firefighters will keep be able to keep some perspective on what they're fighting for and not get injured for their efforts. Man, more than a dozen firefighters on the roof of an unoccupied soundstage (clearspan, probably) seems like a huge risk to me.

Hope nobody dies out there today.

e
 
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Agreed, Not to be callous, but we're talking about the billionaires backyard here. They will build it bigger, stronger and somehow profit from it in the end. The firefighters should be very careful if no one's life is in danger.


www.zampanophoto.com
 
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I've just seen it in my local news, huge fire. I'm sure they have filmed this, as it might be useful for one of those apocaliptic films they do. People moving huge light all around to keep them safe from fire......
 
Of course some of that land is an area that Universal has been considering selling off for development, while moving the assets there further toward the other end of the lot.

Which might actually make some of the damage, downright convenient.
 
Map of fire damage...

Map of fire damage...

Speculating based on the pictures I've seen so far and my years of time on the lot around the mid 1990s. The two large warehouse buildings also marked the edge of the Oscar fire. There is a pretty big fire break there where the NY sets and the stage area of the lot come together. Amblin is in the upper LH corner.

What I cannot tell from any of the photos is how much of Europe or Denver (old West street) was lost in this one. Colonial St. (Wisteria Lane) and Industrial street, the Psycho house and the newer War of the Worlds "set" all seem to be unscathed.

1212352334.jpg


e
 
Another better map, new information based on latest photos...

universal_fire2.jpg


1. Amblin complex
2. Properties building
3. Denver street
4. Industrial street
5. Colonial street (Wisteria Lane, The 'Burbs, Leave it to Beaver)
6. Psycho house and War of the Worlds plane crash neighborhood
7. King Kong attraction
8. Grip / Electrics buildings
9. Earthquake (Former?) attraction

e
 
As long as nothing happens to "Back to the Future's" clock tower, they'll be ok. he he

but is sad when something like this happens.

- Derrick
 
Sad Max said:
Not really. It's an opportunity to revamp and upgrade and do new fun stuff.
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I agree, I'm sure that with all themoney they have they'll rebuild it and do even better than last time. About the los things, it's a pitty but i'm sure they have copies of all the films in other places for cases like this.

BTW, does someone know if this was casued by an ongoing shooting or is just fortuite....
 
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