A fire rages out of control at the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, California 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles June 1, 2008. Hundreds of firefighters are battling a large blaze that broke out on Sunday on a back lot at Universal Studios, site of movie and television production, a spokesman for a neighboring fire department said. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
A massive fire at Universal Studios Sunday destroyed much of the New York City streetscape and other movie sets, causing tens of millions of dollars worth of damage, but no injuries were immediately reported.
Four hours after the fire was reported in a sound stage early in the morning in the studio-theme park northwest of downtown Los Angeles, firefighters said flames were continuing to leap from a large warehouse in the facility.
About 300 Los Angeles city and county firefighters were helping studio firefighters quench the blaze, which spread to the New York City streetscape, according to Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs.
At least one sound stage and several other buildings, including facades meant to look like New York, were believed to have been lost within about 30 minutes. The flames were shooting more than 30 meters in the air.
Firefighters encountered some explosions from propane tanks as they fought the fire, Jacobs said, adding that helicopters were dropping water, and firefighters were attempting to keep the blaze from high-value facilities such the film vault.
Although there was no immediate reports about serious injuries, several urban search and rescue teams were dispatched to the fire, fire officials said.
