Universal Studios struck by fire

A massive fire erupted early Sunday at NBC Universal’s studio lot here, destroying a vault full of video and television images and parts of a popular studio tour, including the studio’s King Kong attraction.

Universal officials said the video vault, which was still burning as of Sunday afternoon, contained images of films and television shows dating back to the 1920s, including the films “Knocked Up” and “Atonement” and the NBC series “Law & Order” and “The Office.”

But in no case was the destroyed material the only copy of a work, the officials said.

The “King Kong” attraction, one of the most popular on a tram tour that begins inside the Universal Studios theme park and continues through portions of the lot, was completely destroyed, a Universal spokeswoman said.