Firefighters battle major fire at Universal Studios, site of television and
movie production in the Los Angeles area.  

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, USA (JUNE 1, 2008) NBC -
A massive fire broke out at the Universal Studios film and TV studio
on Sunday (June 1), engulfing one soundstage and burning a New York City
street set. 
    Officials said a total of 400 firefighters from several Los
Angeles-area fire departments were battling the blaze, and that three
firefighters were being treated for minor injuries. 
    The fire started in the back-lot area depicting New York City, which
was destroyed. 
    About three-quarters of a building housing a "King Kong"
exhibit was destroyed. A building that holds a video vault of original and
master versions of old movies had been destroyed and the vault itself had been
compromised. 
    The exact monetary damage had not yet been fully assessed. 
    Television coverage showed trucks with water cannons dousing flames
from one soundstage, and smoke poured into the air causing a haze that
blanketed parts of west Los Angeles and the Hollywood area. 
    A Los Angeles County Fire official said the blaze was first reported
around 4:45 a.m., but it was not immediately clear what started the fire. 
    Building facades meant to look like New York City were charred, and
several acres on the 230-acre (93-hectare) back lot were burning at one point
in the early morning hours. 
     Universal has been the home of numerous movies over its long history
in Hollywood, including modern-day blockbusters such as "Jaws" and
"Back to the Future." Director Steven Spielberg houses his
production company on the lot. 
    Universal Studios, operated by NBC Universal Inc, is a unit of General
Electric Co. The film and TV studio is a sister company to the NBC broadcast
network, but NBC's main offices are housed in a separate location in nearby
Burbank.