Major fire burns on Universal Studios back lot A soundstage and several sets are lost as billowing smoke raises health concerns.
Low water pressure hampered efforts today to fight a fire that raged through the Universal Studios back lot in Universal City, destroying a soundstage, the theme park's King Kong attraction, a video vault and sets such as the Courthouse Square seen in Back to the Future and the New York streetscape from Bruce Almighty.
As the equivalent of two city blocks burned -- firefighters were still dousing hot spots 11 hours after the blaze began in the predawn darkness -- a mushroom-like cloud of smoke drifted over surrounding neighborhoods, raising health concerns.
A large explosion near the video storage building about 2:45 p.m. left a firefighter and sheriff's deputy with minor injuries when they were knocked off their feet, officials said. Eight other firefighters were hurt earlier, none seriously.
The cause of the fire was unknown. It has been contained to about a half-acre area. At least 300 firefighters battled the blaze, including with water-dropping helicopters. The flames tore through the cavernous two-story video vault containing copies of television shows and movies, some dating to the 1920s. At one point, firefighters hastily removed canisters from the building by hand, but Universal officials said the archives were copies and no original works had been lost.
Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge said he also heard about the water-pressure problems. LaBonge said it was depressing to see part of Hollywood history go up in flames.
Low water pressure hampered efforts today to fight a fire that raged through the Universal Studios back lot in Universal City, destroying a soundstage, the theme park's King Kong attraction, a video vault and sets such as the Courthouse Square seen in Back to the Future and the New York streetscape from Bruce Almighty.
As the equivalent of two city blocks burned -- firefighters were still dousing hot spots 11 hours after the blaze began in the predawn darkness -- a mushroom-like cloud of smoke drifted over surrounding neighborhoods, raising health concerns.
A large explosion near the video storage building about 2:45 p.m. left a firefighter and sheriff's deputy with minor injuries when they were knocked off their feet, officials said. Eight other firefighters were hurt earlier, none seriously.
The cause of the fire was unknown. It has been contained to about a half-acre area. At least 300 firefighters battled the blaze, including with water-dropping helicopters. The flames tore through the cavernous two-story video vault containing copies of television shows and movies, some dating to the 1920s. At one point, firefighters hastily removed canisters from the building by hand, but Universal officials said the archives were copies and no original works had been lost.
Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge said he also heard about the water-pressure problems. LaBonge said it was depressing to see part of Hollywood history go up in flames.
