Disney soundstage fire causes $350,000 in damage
09/10/02 17:15 ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- A fire broke out on the Walt Disney Co.'s studio lot on Tuesday, causing $350,000 in damage to a sound stage where a set was under construction for Disney's upcoming film "Pirates of the Caribbean," authorities said.
No one was injured in the blaze that broke out shortly after 9:30 a.m. on the sound stage at Disney headquarters in Burbank, California, said Burbank fire Capt. Ron Bell.
He said the two-alarm blaze was put out in about 45 minutes.
"They were making foam sets of some type," Bell said. "The cause is under investigation, but it's going to lay somewhere in the building or carving of the sets."
While no one was hurt, the presence of foam at the scene -- which had the potential to give off a cyanide when burning -- prompted an evacuation of nearby buildings until the smoke dissipated, Bell said.
A hazardous materials team was also called to the scene, he added.
Bell said damages were estimated at $50,000 to the building and $300,000 to its contents, including water damage.
No other buildings on the studio lot were affected, including the other seven sound stages on the Disney lot, said Disney spokeswoman Michelle Bergman.
She said it is still too soon to say if shooting for "Pirates" -- a film based on the popular attraction at Disney's theme parks -- will be able to proceed on schedule, or if it may have to be moved elsewhere.
But she added that Disney does not anticipate the accident will affect the movie's release date, which is scheduled for summer 2003
09/10/02 17:15 ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- A fire broke out on the Walt Disney Co.'s studio lot on Tuesday, causing $350,000 in damage to a sound stage where a set was under construction for Disney's upcoming film "Pirates of the Caribbean," authorities said.
No one was injured in the blaze that broke out shortly after 9:30 a.m. on the sound stage at Disney headquarters in Burbank, California, said Burbank fire Capt. Ron Bell.
He said the two-alarm blaze was put out in about 45 minutes.
"They were making foam sets of some type," Bell said. "The cause is under investigation, but it's going to lay somewhere in the building or carving of the sets."
While no one was hurt, the presence of foam at the scene -- which had the potential to give off a cyanide when burning -- prompted an evacuation of nearby buildings until the smoke dissipated, Bell said.
A hazardous materials team was also called to the scene, he added.
Bell said damages were estimated at $50,000 to the building and $300,000 to its contents, including water damage.
No other buildings on the studio lot were affected, including the other seven sound stages on the Disney lot, said Disney spokeswoman Michelle Bergman.
She said it is still too soon to say if shooting for "Pirates" -- a film based on the popular attraction at Disney's theme parks -- will be able to proceed on schedule, or if it may have to be moved elsewhere.
But she added that Disney does not anticipate the accident will affect the movie's release date, which is scheduled for summer 2003
