Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080604/article_361867.htm

Spark is blamed for Hollywood lot blaze

Created: 2008-6-4

A FIRE that destroyed a large area of Universal Studios' Hollywood back lot at the weekend was caused by a spark from a blow torch being used by a workman on a film set, fire officials said.

The blaze erupted before dawn on Sunday in a portion of the lot containing exteriors used to resemble a New York City streetscape. It reduced a two-city-block area to ashes and burned through much of the adjacent Courthouse Square set that had appeared in such films as "Back to the Future" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Also destroyed was the popular "King Kong" attraction featured in the Universal Studios Theme Park tram tour of the back lot, and a warehouse where copies of TV shows and films were stored. Studio officials said all of the material lost in the video vault could be replaced.

Agencies

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