Peter Parka
Well-Known Member
Fire raging at Universal Studios
A large fire is burning at the world-famous Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California.
The blaze was reported before dawn on a sound stage at the film studios, said Los Angeles fire captain Frank Reynoso.
About 100 city and county firefighters are helping studio staff tackle the flames, which have caused at least one explosion, he said.
No injuries have been reported at the 230-acre site, which saw filming for King Kong and The War of the Worlds.
Helicopters have been dropping water on to the burning structures, and television pictures showed flames leaping into the air as a thick cloud of smoke covered the site.
James Barnes of the LA County Fire Department said the fire had virtually destroyed at least one building, and firefighters were battling to stop the flames from spreading to adjoining buildings.
"There's some Hollywood history going up in smoke today and we're doing our best to minimalise the damage," he told the BBC.
There are indications that the sound stage had recently been used for filming, says the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Los Angeles.
It is likely that there would have been a good deal of flammable material and props, as well as fuel supplies, on the site, our correspondent adds.
Behind-the-scenes tours of the studios are a long-established tradition still popular with visitors today.
Story from BBC NEWS:
A large fire is burning at the world-famous Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California.
The blaze was reported before dawn on a sound stage at the film studios, said Los Angeles fire captain Frank Reynoso.
About 100 city and county firefighters are helping studio staff tackle the flames, which have caused at least one explosion, he said.
No injuries have been reported at the 230-acre site, which saw filming for King Kong and The War of the Worlds.
Helicopters have been dropping water on to the burning structures, and television pictures showed flames leaping into the air as a thick cloud of smoke covered the site.
James Barnes of the LA County Fire Department said the fire had virtually destroyed at least one building, and firefighters were battling to stop the flames from spreading to adjoining buildings.
"There's some Hollywood history going up in smoke today and we're doing our best to minimalise the damage," he told the BBC.
There are indications that the sound stage had recently been used for filming, says the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Los Angeles.
It is likely that there would have been a good deal of flammable material and props, as well as fuel supplies, on the site, our correspondent adds.
Behind-the-scenes tours of the studios are a long-established tradition still popular with visitors today.
Story from BBC NEWS:
