BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: LA studios inferno

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21:59 GMT, Sunday, 1 June 2008 22:59 UK

In pictures: LA studios inferno

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The fire raging at Universal Studios in Los Angeles rivalled infernos seen in many of the films produced at the world-famous venue.

Photo of the fire at dawn at Universal Studios on Sunday

Photo of the fire at dawn at Universal Studios on Sunday

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The fire started at dawn and took firefighters hours to contain. Parts of the site were still smouldering on Sunday.

Universal Studios fire

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A New York street scene, the King Kong exhibit and a square seen in Back to the Future were destroyed in the blaze.

Universal Studios fire

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The fire is thought to have started on a sound stage of the studios. An advertisement is reported to have been being filmed at the time.

Universal Studios

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Plumes of thick black smoke rose into the sky, where water-dropping helicopters helped fight the blaze.

Universal Studios fire

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Television crews broadcast footage of the fire from helicopters to live news channels.

Universal Studios fire

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Three firefighters are reported to have been injured as they fought the fire on the 400-acre site.

Universal Studios fire

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Firefighters also helped in salvage operations - saving hundreds of videos from a video vault that caught fire.

Universal Studios fire

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Universal Studios paid tribute to the firefighters, saying they were real heroes who had contained a fire that could have burned horribly out of control.

Universal Studios fire

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But it was too late to save some buildings. Reports say at least one explosion was heard - thought to be propane tanks.

Universal Studios fire

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Despite the extent of the fire, the studios say the site will be open to the public as usual on Monday, although some tours will be affected.

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