Cause of Universal Fire Found

Universal Studio blaze tied to roofing work

UNIVERSAL CITY - Tourists got a view of real-life disaster in the make-believe world of Hollywood on Monday as the Universal Studios theme park reopened after a huge fire swept through backlot sets and buildings. Investigators determined the blaze was accidentally caused by roofing work.

The smell of smoke hung in the air as guests streamed in when the gates reopened and tourists on the park's tram ride applauded firefighters as they drove past. At least a dozen firetrucks remained on the lot as smoke continued to rise from thick, twisted piles of girders.

"We were a bit shocked," said Danish tourist Morten Jull, 20. "We were like, can this be?"

After a brief pause at the scene, the tram trundled on to undamaged sights, including the DeLorean time machine from "Back to the Future" and other classic movie cars, the scattered wreckage of a crashed jumbo jet from "War of the Worlds," the Bates Motel from "Psycho" and Wisteria Lane, scene of TV's "Desperate Housewives."

Later, on a viewing platform overlooking the backlot, several people surveyed the destruction.

"It's kind of grotesque to say, but it's another point of interest," said Kathy Crabb, 38. "Like a train wreck, it's hard not to look."

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said the fire began early Sunday after workers used a blowtorch to heat asphalt shingles to apply to the roof of a building facade. They finished about 3 a.m. and followed policy of standing watch for one hour, then left for a break, he said.

A security guard spotted the fire and reported it at 4:43 a.m., Freeman said.

Responding to reports of firefighters being hindered by low water pressure, Freeman said it would be studied but suggested it might have been due to the volume of water - 18,000 gallons a minute at the peak - that was poured on the flames.

"We must keep in mind that given the tremendous amount of fire - if you can imagine a city block worth of fire on the initial arrival of the firefighting companies," he said.

Freeman said the studio's water systems were up to current county code.

The fire erupted on a streetscape featuring New York brownstone facades at the 400-acre property. It then destroyed a King Kong attraction, the courthouse square from "Back to the Future" and a streetscape featured in "Spider-Man 2" and "Transformers."

The blaze also gutted a building housing thousands of videos, but Universal Studios President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer said there were duplicates of everything.

The fire chief said water deluge systems were installed in that building after a 1990 backlot fire, and their effectiveness will be evaluated.

Low water pressure forced firefighters to tap lakes and ponds at Universal, which is a working studio as well as a theme park.

The blaze burned for more than 12 hours but was contained to the backlot, which straddles a pass through the hills between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. Nine firefighters and a sheriff's deputy had minor injuries.

Universal Studios said it could take several days to assess damage, but it was "business as usual" at its theme park and TV and movie production resumed Monday. Indeed, the lines for some rides, including the new "Simpsons" ride, stretched on for 30 minutes.

None of the 30 sound stages on the lot was damaged, and the New York streetscape will be rebuilt, said studio spokeswoman Cindy Gardner.

That meant the fire was "not disastrous for the overall industry," said Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.

Sound stages are in high demand by producers and are expensive to build, he said.

Use of the New York streetscape was often at full capacity, though it was not in use when the fire hit, Gardner said.

Art director Francois Audouy helped shoot the final battle scene of "Transformers" on the New York streetscape, and said it was the longest and widest of its kind in southern California.

"It's a real shame," Audouy said. "There's a New York street at Warner Bros., and Paramount, as well. But Universal's was considered a very unique option for filmmakers to create that New York look."

The set was held up by telephone poles and wood, and a fire crew was standing by at all times over the four days of shooting, which included many explosions, he said.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the water pressure issue would be investigated.

Universal is in county territory and operates and maintains its own water system, which is fed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. But the city's involvement stops at Universal's property line.

"Yesterday we had adequate water supply feeding their system and were in fact asked by the Fire Department to attempt to increase water pressure and we did so," DWP spokesman Joe Ramallo said Monday.

"However, that action had a negligible effect because of the area in which Universal is located and the fact that the water system that runs throughout Universal Studios is private and operated by the park," he said.

Another fire at Universal Studios in November 1990 caused $25 million in damage and was started by a security guard who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to arson. After that fire the New York streetscape was rebuilt in three months.

The set of the 1960 film "Spartacus" and a block called European Street burned in 1987. The studio, operating since 1915, also had backlot fires in 1967 and 1937, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Bill Holliday, 72, a regular park visitor, said he and his wife came Monday to see the damage.

"We just wanted to come and have a look at it," he said. "It's very sad."

The destroyed streetscape had recently served as a backdrop in television shows like "Monk," "Crossing Jordan" and "House," Gardner said.

A set used for the movie "Changeling," featuring Angelina Jolie, also was destroyed, Meyer said.

Source: Daily Breeze.com