Fire Destroys Some Famous Sets on Universal Lot

A fire yesterday destroyed about three and a half acres on the Universal Studios backlot. It also damaged or destroyed some well known sets used in movies like Spiderman 2 and many others. Universal spokesman Eliot Sekuler spoke with KPCC's Morning Edition host Steve Julian about what the fire damaged and the studio's plans for rebuilding.

Elliot Sekuler: Yeah, we lost New York Streets, which was the site of many, many productions over the years; we lost the upper part of Courthouse Square. But we lost a little under three and a half acres of a 391 acre lot, so it's really less than one percent of the total of Universal Studios.

Steve Julian: These buildings that went down in flames, were they up to fire code?

Sekuler: Um, I don't– I can't address that. I believe so, yes. I don't think that's ever been in question.

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Julian: Now, some of these sets, like the New York one, were also destroyed in a fire about 18 years ago. Will they be rebuilt?

Sekuler: Yes. We're going to rebuild everything. Everything here is replaceable. Everything will be rebuilt, and I know that a construction plan will be underway shortly.

Julian: The square from the movies Back to the Future, that will be brought back to look as it did day before yesterday?

Sekuler: Yes, in fact, there was some misreporting today that Back to the Future buildings were destroyed. In fact, I'm standing here, as we speak, looking right at them.

The area right up to them was burned, but the Back to the Future building, courthouse itself, is still intact. A little smoke damaged, but that should be reparable. The tower had been removed for another production, so that's stored in our prop archives, and that will be– that can be replaced at any time.

Julian: Any idea what started the fire?

Sekuler: We don't yet. The fire department is investigating that, and I'm sure they will make that announ– they will make those findings public as soon as they have them. One thing we really do need to thank is that this could have been worse had the fire– four fire departments came down here and worked in amazing concert together.

It's great teamwork, with L.A. City, L.A. County, Burbank, and Arcadia fire departments all sent massive amounts of personnel and equipment to put this thing out. It would have– they got it out, and considering how hot that blaze was, they did a great job in getting this thing out for us.

Julian: How many fire engines are situated on the studio lot?

Sekuler: I don't know how many engines. We have a department here that's permanent here to the lot. It's situated right in the middle of the studio.

Julian: Park reopens at 10 this morning. How much will people be able to see today? Will the tram tour be cut short?

Sekuler: No, the tram tour– well, you know, again, we have less than one percent of the studio is actually, was burned, and most of the sets that people associate with us, Wisteria Lane, where Desperate Housewives shoots, and Little Europe, and the western streets; those are still functioning, those are still open. The Spartacus square.

Most of the lot will still be operating. The earthquake attraction, the City Walk area, and the theme park are still operating. They will open for business as usual. We lost one attraction on the backlot tour, the King Kong attraction. There's no word yet as to when that, how we will rebuild that, although I'm sure a new attraction will come in to replace it. That goes back to 1986, it's 22 years old, and as much as we loved it, you can replace it.

Julian: This is not just a loss of property; it's much more than that for movie buffs. How does the fire hit you personally?

Sekuler: Well, for all of us who have, you know, who work on this lot and have grown up here and love it deeply, it's really sad to lose some of the iconic sets, but we know they can rebuilt, and they will be rebuilt, and we have confidence that the studio will– this is, this is one of the oldest and the largest studio still operating in California, and it goes back to 1915. Lots of things have happened over here over the years, and we will go on.

Julian: Elliot Sekuler is a spokesman for Universal Studios. Thanks very much.

Sekuler: You're very welcome.