Business As Usual After Fire At Universal Studios

After the large fire that swept through Universal Studios on Sunday, the President Ron Meyer, vowed that it would be "business as usual" come Monday.

Being true to his word they loaded visitors onto a tram to tour the studios back lot where the fire damage occurred. “We’re going to take you right up next to the devastated part of the lot, and give you a closeup look,” a smiling guide who identified himself as Owen told visitors. “Actually, Hollywood has a long history of back-lot fires,” said Owen. He told the visitors — who asked no questions, and seemed to take it all in stride.

The smell of smoke hung in the air Monday as tourists on the park's tram ride applauded firefighters as they drove past. At least a dozen fire trucks remained on the lot as smoke continued to rise from thick, twisted piles of girders.

The fire was started accidentally by company employees using a blowtorch to heat asphalt roofing shingles, authorities said. It was initially spotted by a security guard at approx 4:43 AM Sunday morning who reported the fire.

The blaze burned for more than 12 hours but was contained to the back lot. It gutted a building housing 40,000 to 50,000 videos, but Universal Studios President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer said there were duplicates of everything.

It also destroyed a King Kong attraction, the courthouse square from Back to the Future, which my wife tells me is also the set of CBS' Ghost Whisperer, and a street scape featured in Spider-Man 2 and Transformers.

About 400 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 18 hours and were severely hampered by low water pressure.

Damage cost estimates at this time are unknown but, another fire at Universal Studios in November 1990 caused $25 million in damage and was rebuilt in three months.

Video of the Universal Studios Fire

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