Universal Studios Fire Levels "New York City," Ghost Whisperer Town
The faux version of New York City that King Kong once called home and a New England-y lot that hosted Back to the Future's Hill Valley and TV's Ghost Whisperer went up in flames Sunday morning when a massive 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.
No injuries have been reported thus far. There are unconfirmed reports that some filming was going on at the time and that the studio's film vault was threatened. Sunday night's MTV Movie Awards will be held as planned at Universal's Gibson Theater.