Fire rages on Universal Studios Lot

A gigantic fire on Universal City’s “lower” backlot broke out before dawn today (Sunday  June 1st) and destroyed several buildings, causing tens of millions of dollars worth of damage. About 200 city and county firefighters joined studio firefighters to tackle the spectacular blaze fanned by gusting winds, featuring 100-foot flames and propane tank explosions. Helicopters dropped water onto the burning structures.

Eliot Sekuler of Universal Studios said only the “lower” backlot was damaged, not the hilltop theme park, which would be open today. Some of the more familiar attractions on the back lot are the clock tower from the “Back To The Future” movies and the house featured in “Psycho.”

And that appears to be good news for the MTV Movie Awards. The ceremony, hosted by Mike Myers—will broadcast live from Universal’s Gibson Amphitheatre today at 5 p.m. PT. Celebrities are expected to hit the red carpet starting at about 3 p.m.

Among the sets damaged were the New York City and New England streetscapes, and among the buildings one housing the King Kong exhibit and one sound stage. In the archives building next door, Universal employees were bringing out archives material hand to hand to save it from the flames. The fire was first reported in a sound stage on the studio back lot at about 4:45 a.m., and about 200 county firefighters were helping studio firefighters quench the fire. Several acres on the 230-acre back lot were burning at one point, creating a black cloud over the famed Hollywood Hills. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Daryl Jacobs said at least one building had burned and as many as three blocks of movie facades were destroyed. Though the fire was contained, it was still raging.