Persistent blaze on back lot at Universal Studios destroys sets

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
One of Hollywood's largest movie studios starred in a disastrous sequel as a fire ripped through a lot at Universal Studios, destroying a set from "Back to the Future," a King Kong exhibit and a streetscape seen frequently in movies and TV shows. It was the second fire at the historic site in nearly two decades, leveling facades, hollowing out buildings and creating the kind of catastrophe filmmakers relish re-creating. This time around, thousands of videos chronicling Universal's movie and TV shows were destroyed in Sunday's blaze. But Universal officials said that they were thankful no vistors were seriously injured - though several firefighters suffered minor injuries - and that the damaged footage can be replaced. "We have duplicates of everything," said Ron Meyer, NBC Universal president and chief operating officer. "Nothing is lost forever."