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big fire at universal studios

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LIVE VIDEO: Fire at Universal Studios
Last Edited: Sunday, 01 Jun 2008, 7:44 AM PDT
Created: Sunday, 01 Jun 2008, 6:35 AM PDT
A huge fire tears through buildings at Universal Studios in Universal City on Sunday, June 1st.
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LIVE VIDEO: Universal Studios Fire

Universal City (myfoxla.com) --

A gigantic fire on Universal City's backlot broke out before dawn today and destroyed several buildings, causing tens of millions of dollars worth of damage.

The blaze was reported in a sound stage on the studio backlot about 4:45 a.m., and between 200-300 county firefighters were helping studio firefighters quench the blaze, which reportedly spread to the New York City streetscape.

WATCH LIVE VIDEO: Universal Studios Fire

At least one sound stage and several other buildings were believed to have been lost within about 30 minutes. Several acres on the 230-acre backlot were burning at one point, creating a black cloud over the Hollywood Hills.

Eliot Sekuler of Universal Studios said only the "lower" backlot was damaged, not the theme park on top of the hill. He said CityWalk and the Universal Studios theme park would be open today.

No injuries were immediately reported, county fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said. Several urban search and rescue teams were dispatched to the fire.

County firefighters, backed up by city firefighters and agencies across the county, encountered some explosions from propane tanks as they fought the fire, Jacobs said.

Universal Studios also has its own fire department.

Firefighters ran out of water in parts of the backlot at least twice during the firefight.

"There was an issue with water, but that has been rectified," Jacobs said. "They are shuttling water in."

Several helicopters were dropping water, he said, adding that firefighters were attempting to keep the blaze from high-value facilities such the film vault. But that building was believed to have been seriously damaged if not destroyed.

Shortly before 7 a.m., a building housing the King Kong exhibit went up in flames.

As the fire moved from west to east, firefighters staged along Barham Boulevard to keep it from spreading into open space east of the road.

The fire apparently began during a film shoot, Jacobs said.

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