massive fire erupted at Universal Studios California early Sunday morning, affecting several movie sets, a video library, and a popular tourist exhibit. Tens of millions of dollars of damage were sustained, but there were no serious injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Behind the News
Hollywood, which is often known for its artifice, was faced with the very real threat of a 30-meter inferno. By dawn, the monstrous cloud of black smoke made it look as if Hollywood was filming a film about its own doomsday - ; this was the second fire at Universal Studios in less than 20 years.

The fire started Sunday between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. and continued for nearly 10 hours. Flames were fed by propane gas from ruptured canisters and propelled by free-burning timbre facades.

if Universal had kept the cameras running, it would have starred in its own disaster film sequel

Around 500 Los Angeles and Burbank-area firefighters fought to control the inferno. They were quite successful, eventually containing the fire to one spot. Unfortunately, that one spot was the King Kong exhibit in the Universal Studios tram tour. The exhibit was likely destroyed. Some say it was fire, but I say ‘twas beauty killed the beast.

The blaze began on the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot, but eventually spread to street sets made to look like New York and New England. Low water pressure and an overwhelmed sprinkler system hindered the fight against the fast-moving fire, which eventually tore through the two city blocks at the back lot. Due to the low pressure, firefighters on the scene could get only a 10-foot spray from park hydrants and were unable to reach the flames.

The fire burned in the video warehouse until late in the afternoon. Almost 40,000 film and TV titles were damaged, but only the digital versions. A nearby archival vault housing negatives and masters was unharmed. The world will thankfully never be deprived of repeat viewings of Patch Adams.

Although the archives were unharmed, the same cannot be said for a number of iconic movie sets, including a famous alley from The Sting and Courthouse Square, which played a prominent role in Back to the Future, To Kill a Mockingbird and Inherit the Wind.

Television was also not immune from the blaze. Of the TV productions on the lot, which include Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Life, but only CBS' Ghost Whisperer, was seriously affected by the fire.

"Nothing irreplaceable was lost,” said Universal Studios President Ron Meyer. “We have duplicates of everything that was lost. We are very lucky today. It could have been worse.” Worse than Back to the Future? I think not.

Despite all the damage, it’s expected to be work as usual on Monday as the entire property will be open for business. Sunday’s taping of the MTV Movie Awards at the adjacent Gibson Amphitheatre also went ahead as planned. The ceremony was hosted by Mike Myers. Even a fire can’t prevent The Love Guru.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.