Fotos gibt es hier:http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-studiofire2-2008jun02,0,5175136.story
Fire breaks out on Universal Studios lot
A huge fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios in Universal City today, destroying several sound stages and valuable Hollywood memorabilia.
About 300 firefighters -- as well as water-dropping helicopters -- were battling the blaze, which started just before dawn, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Fire department spokesman Darryl Jacobs said the King Kong exhibit was burned. Authorities also confirmed that several studio streetscapes, including one of New York and another of New England, were lost.
Jacobs estimated that a third of a square mile had burned and that firefighters were making an "aggressive attack" on the blaze.
Universal Studios spokesman Elliot Sekuler said the park would be open today, though the studio tour would be affected by the blaze. He did not have any more details about the fire but said he understood filming was going on when it broke out.
The fire sent a giant column of black smoke into the air that could be seen for miles. Officials said the fire was able to spread so fast in part because the studio sets were made of timber.
"Big lumber causes a big fire," said Jacobs, noting that some of the sounds stages date back to the 1930s and '40s. "When there's a fire of this magnitude, we bring a lot of personnel."
Jacobs said there were some small explosions when firefighters first arrived, but officials aren't sure what caused them.
Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, who raced to the scene early this morning, said it was depressing to see part of Hollywood history go up in flames.
"Firefighters are handing out the film cannisters. It's very sad," he said. "Ever since the movies came to Hollywood, there have been studio fires. And this is a big one."
"It's like a movie set, a disaster film," he aded. "And it's sad because of all of the people who come here, who work here."
Times Staff Writer Amanda Covarrubias, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Associated Press contributed to this report.
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