I thought of CM when I saw this on the morning news. I'm glad it didn't happen while the park was open, that could have been disasterous. I hope the losses aren't extensive!

I'm quite frightened about the film vault - I sure hope we didn't lose anything that wasn't archived elsewhere. That's a horrible thought.

I'm also bummed about Kong. I love giant scale animatronics. Here in Florida, we had an attraction with not one, but two enormous Kong figures, and I adored it. I was sad to see it go, but I consoled myself thinking that I could always go to CA and see their Kong. Alas, that's a wrap for the big monkey. It wasn't the planes that killed him.

(Is there a Kong in Japan's Universal? I'll have to find out.)

Edited to add: Nope, no Kong at USJ

The LA County FD chief is saying that the "video vault" is burnt as well as the back to the future square, New York Street and King Kong.

Was backlot filming complete for the Watchmen movie? I know they were using the New York set...

It's not the film vault it's a video vault. If they are smart, they have protection masters of these tapes that burned at other facilities. That is usually what most studios do... Not sure if that's what Universal does.

The Back to the Future square is gone, courthouse square is gone and King Kong is gone.

There is a huge pillar of smoke covering the sky around here. There's ash all over the yard and covering the cars here. Several people walking around are wearing surgical masks.

Apparently, they used water from some of the lakes on the property to douse some of the fire. The aerial shots I have seen show a lot of damage has been done to the lot.

So, if Matt was scheduled today, it looks like he has to be there and doesn't get the day off...



But somehow, somehow they are going to open the theme park and City Walk area at noon according to the pres of Universal. I think that's stupid. There's bad air quality where I live, I can't imagine what it's like at the park itself.

They are also saying the universal studios cyclone ride was destroyed.

What's the cyclone?

:( This is just sad.

The video vault was burned - those are duplicates not masters.

King Kong is gone (which is really sad, he was one of the few survivors of the 1990 fire).

The Courthouse building is still there, but the facades at the opposite side of courthouse square are gone (pretty similiar to what happened in 1990).

I think I'm just gonna go cry a lil. :(

I just hosed down the property that I live on. There are huge pieces of ash all over the place. The pool is covered with ash.

I don't know what the cyclone is...

Wouldn't it have been ironic if the Backdraft ride burned down?

Or if lighting hitting the tower started it.