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Universal Studios Fire Ravages "New York City," Ghost Whisperer Sets
Universal Studios by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage.com
A faux version of New York City that Spider-Man and the Transformers once called home and a New England-y lot that was featured in Back to the Future as well as episodes of TV's Ghost Whisperer, Monk and House went up in flames Sunday morning when a massive, 12-hour fire tore through the Universal Studios back lot in Universal City, Calif.
The blaze began just before dawn on a sound stage and ultimately claimed at least one building and three blocks' worth of movie facades, while more than 100 firefighters and water-dropping helicopters battled the flames. The tragedy is believed to be one of the longest-running commercial fires in Los Angeles County history, partly due to low water-pressure which slowed down the dousing effort.
Nine firefighters and one sheriff's deputy suffered minor injuries, some in an explosion in the building housing the studio's (replaceable, thankfully) videotape and film reel library. The clock tower featured in Back to the Future was among the landmark set pieces lost in the blaze.
Sunday night's MTV Movie Awards were held as planned at Universal's Gibson Theater. — Matt Mitovich
Related:
• Preview of the 2008 MTV Movie Awards
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Jun 1, 2008 12:46 PM
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OMGosh, that's awful! I just hope it doesn't affect Ghost Whisperer: Season 4
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Jun 1, 2008 2:39 PM
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I freaked out when i saw the footage this morning. It's less than a mile from my condo in LA! And considering how huge the fire was, it's amazing there wasn't more lost. Nice work firefighters!
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Jun 1, 2008 3:35 PM
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According to MSN, 40,000-50,000 videos and reels were in the vault, and thousands were damaged, but there are duplicates in another vault. Good thing, because the videos included every movie that Universal ever produced, along with footage from several TV shows. The courthouse square from BttF was destroyed, and the clock tower was damaged. The King Kong exhibit is also reported to be destroyed. Good job, firefighters, for working so quickly and preventing the fire from wreaking more damage.
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Jun 1, 2008 4:53 PM
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I agree with what has been said so far. Great job, firefighters. Thank God no one was killed, although I heard a few firefighters were injured.
And I also hope it doesn't hurt GW season 4. Maybe a lot more indoor scenes.
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Jun 1, 2008 5:26 PM
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No, this is terrible 
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Jun 1, 2008 6:10 PM
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Universal Studios owes a very big "thank you" to all the firefighters who battled this blaze. They obviously did an amazing job getting and keeping this fire under control and putting it out. I think Universal should start its "thank yous" by releasing seasons 5, 6, & 7 of EMERGENCY! on DVD immediately!
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Jun 1, 2008 6:31 PM
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So, does this mean that we need to "save the clocktower?"
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Jun 1, 2008 7:30 PM
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"I freaked out when i saw the footage this morning. It's less than a mile from my condo in LA! And considering how huge the fire was, it's amazing there wasn't more lost. Nice work firefighters"
Could you have been anymore lame! Nobody cares about your condo a mile or so away. As a LA resident who is over seas (I have property in LA 4 bedrooms 3 baths.) I would care less about the property (because if you have insurance, you have nothing to worry about) and more about the people who were hurt...
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Jun 1, 2008 9:16 PM
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I hope they rebuild the back to the future set but given their disrespect in closing the much loved ride, I guess that it is doubtful.
We should save the clock tower.
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Jun 2, 2008 12:26 AM
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thankulord13- there was no need for that! She was just making a comment that it's scary when things hit so close to home. It's perfectly understandable. Why so rude?
Good job to the firefighters for all they do everyday.
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Jun 2, 2008 9:06 AM
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I would care less about the property (because if you have insurance, you have nothing to worry about) and more about the people who were hurt...
No one was hurt, so you can climb on down off that high horse any time.
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Jun 2, 2008 9:41 AM
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Nobody cares about your condo a mile or so away. As a LA resident who is over seas (I have property in LA 4 bedrooms 3 baths.) I would care less about the property (because if you have insurance, you have nothing to worry about) and more about the people who were hurt...
If "nobody" cares about Erin's condo, why did you bother telling us how many bedrooms your property has? You don't need to insult someone for personally identifying with a news article. And you certainly have things to worry about even if you have insurance, because the loss of property can be an emotional event, especially when items are unique or have special meaning and cannot be replaced. (Let's give a big hand to the people in charge of duplicating the Universal Studios archive that was destroyed)
The loss and damage of the BttF stuff is very sad, but it's good that the damage was as contained and didn't get the chance to destroy more than it did.
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Jun 2, 2008 11:21 AM
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Gotta love a spammer named SPAMMER! Makes it so easy for the mods. - MWM
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Jun 2, 2008 11:57 AM
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Wow, thankulord13, what's with the hate? Did you even read anything beyond the word "condo?" Thank you Dianora, Footballfran and Keira for having my back!
I saw the footage of the wreckage this morning on the Today show... wow. But, I'm sure Universal will have it rebuilt by the end of summer. So glad that no one was hurt, and that there are copies of the movies that were damaged in the vault.
Again, bravo to the firefighters. 
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Jun 2, 2008 11:59 AM
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