Fire Sweeps Through Universal Studios Back Lot

01 June 2008 -- A large fire has destroyed some movie sets on a back lot at Universal Studios in Los Angeles County, California.

Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze that broke out before dawn Sunday, about 15 kilometers from the city of Los Angeles.

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Fire officials say the blaze began on a sound stage known as "New York street," built to look like New York City. It swept through a set from the 1980s hit movie Back to the Future, and a vault containing tens of thousands of archived videos and film reels.

But Universal chief Ron Meyer told reporters nothing irreplaceable was lost from the vault, because copies of the archives are stored elsewhere.

Fire officials also say the King Kong attraction at the adjacent Universal Studios theme park was damaged.

Officials at Universal Studios say the theme park was open Sunday despite the fire, although a tram tour through the back lot was closed.

Source: VOA News