UNIVERSAL CITY - Tourists got a view of real-life disaster in the make-believe world of Hollywood on Monday as the Universal Studios theme park reopened after a huge fire swept through backlot sets and buildings. Investigators determined the blaze was accidentally caused by roofing work.The smell of smoke hung in the air as guests streamed in when the gates reopened and tourists on the park's tram ride applauded firefighters as they drove past. At least a dozen fire trucks remained on the lot as smoke continued to rise from thick, twisted piles of girders.
"We were a bit shocked," said Danish tourist Morten Jull, 20. "We were like, can this be?"
After a brief pause at the scene, the tram trundled on to undamaged sights, including the DeLorean time machine from "Back to the Future" and other classic movie cars, the scattered wreckage of a crashed jumbo jet from "War of the Worlds," the Bates Motel from "Psycho" and Wisteria Lane, scene of TV's "Desperate Housewives."
Later, on a viewing platform overlooking the backlot, several people surveyed the destruction.
"It's kind of grotesque to say, but it's another point of interest," said Kathy Crabb, 38. "Like a train wreck, it's hard not to look." Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said the fire began early Sunday after workers used a blowtorch to heat asphalt shingles to apply to the roof of a building facade. They finished about 3 a.m. and followed policy of standing watch for one hour, then left for a break, he said.
A security guard spotted the fire and reported it at 4:43 a.m., Freeman said. Responding to reports of firefighters being hindered by low water pressure, Freeman said it would be studied but suggested it might have been due to the volume of water - 18,000 gallons a minute at the peak - that was poured on the flames.
"We must keep in mind that given the tremendous amount of fire - if you can imagine a city block worth of fire on the initial arrival of the firefighting companies," he said. Freeman said the studio's water systems were up to current county code. The fire erupted on a streetscape featuring New York brownstone facades at the 400-acre property. It then destroyed a King Kong attraction, the courthouse square from "Back to the Future" and a streetscape featured in "Spider-Man 2" and "Transformers."
The blaze also gutted a building housing thousands of videos, but Universal Studios President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer said there were duplicates of everything. The fire chief said water deluge systems were installed in that building after a 1990 backlot fire, and their effectiveness will be evaluated. Low water pressure forced firefighters to tap lakes and ponds at Universal, which is a working studio as well as a theme park.
The blaze burned for more than 12 hours but was contained to the backlot, which straddles a pass through the hills between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. Nine firefighters and a sheriff's deputy had minor injuries. Universal Studios said it could take several days to assess damage, but it was "business as usual" at its theme park and TV and movie production resumed Monday. Indeed, the lines for some rides, including the new "Simpsons" ride, stretched on for 30 minutes.
None of the 30 sound stages on the lot was damaged, and the New York streetscape will be rebuilt, said studio spokeswoman Cindy Gardner. That meant the fire was "not disastrous for the overall industry," said Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.
Sound stages are in high demand by producers and are expensive to build, he said. Use of the New York streetscape was often at full capacity, though it was not in use when the fire hit, Gardner said. Art director Francois Audouy helped shoot the final battle scene of "Transformers" on the New York streetscape, and said it was the longest and widest of its kind in southern California.
"It's a real shame," Audouy said. "There's a New York street at Warner Bros., and Paramount, as well. But Universal's was considered a very unique option for filmmakers to create that New York look." The set was held up by telephone poles and wood, and a fire crew was standing by at all times over the four days of shooting, which included many explosions, he said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the water pressure issue would be investigated. Universal is in county territory and operates and maintains its own water system, which is fed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. But the city's involvement stops at Universal's property line.
"Yesterday we had adequate water supply feeding their system and were in fact asked by the Fire Department to attempt to increase water pressure and we did so," DWP spokesman Joe Ramallo said Monday. "However, that action had a negligible effect because of the area in which Universal is located and the fact that the water system that runs throughout Universal Studios is private and operated by the park," he said.
Another fire at Universal Studios in November 1990 caused $25 million in damage and was started by a security guard who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to arson. After that fire the New York streetscape was rebuilt in three months. The set of the 1960 film "Spartacus" and a block called European Street burned in 1987.
The studio, operating since 1915, also had backlot fires in 1967 and 1937, the Los Angeles Times reported. Bill Holliday, 72, a regular park visitor, said he and his wife came Monday to see the damage. "We just wanted to come and have a look at it," he said. "It's very sad." The destroyed streetscape had recently served as a backdrop in television shows like "Monk," "Crossing Jordan" and "House," Gardner said. A set used for the movie "Changeling," featuring Angelina Jolie, also was destroyed, Meyer said.
Firestone Building Products has opened a new, 225,000 sq. ft. distribution facility in Plainfield, Indiana to serve their customers more efficiently and effectively. The Plainfield Distribution Center is the largest in Firestone’s supply chain network and will stock and distribute all of Firestone’s Single-Ply materials and accessories. Furthermore, Firestone’s Beech Grove, Indiana distribution location will continue to stock and distribute all of our Asphalt products. Moreover, Firestone will continue to offer combined shipments of Single-Ply and Asphalt products out of Indiana but will begin charging a $100 stop-over fee for this service.
In addition, Firestone’s new weight requirement for prepaid freight on EPDM and TPO full truckload shipments will be 30,000 pounds. The increased weight requirement for full truckloads will allow Firestone to better utilize the available space on every truck used and will reduce the number of trucks on the road which will provide for a better environment through less emissions and fossil fuel use. This weight requirement is consistent with the industry and will be effective with all prepaid truckload shipments made on or after March 1, 2008.
ABC Supply announces death of founder and CEO - 01/02/2008
Ken Hendricks, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply Co. Inc., died Dec. 21. He suffered a massive head injury as a result of a fall at a construction site at his home in Beloit, Wis., and died during surgery. He was 66.
Hendricks founded ABC Supply in 1982. Under his leadership, the company grew to include 6,000 associates and 390 locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. With sales of nearly $3 billion, ABC Supply is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing products in the U.S.
Hendricks invested in a number of rehabilitation projects in the Beloit area, including transforming the old Beloit Corp.'s 35-acre complex into a manufacturing and office center; turning a vacant nursing home into a halfway house; and rehabilitating and repurposing an abandoned shopping mall as a convention center and library.
Hendricks also served on the boards of a variety of organizations to bring about quality-of-life improvements through employment opportunities, education and urban development.
Hendricks is survived by his wife, Diane Hendricks, their seven children and the children’s families.
November contracts decreased 8 percent - 12/30/2007
McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Cos., New York, has reported construction starts decreased 8 percent in November.
"The broad trend for new construction starts during 2007 has been downward, reflecting the sustained weakness for housing that's still under way," says Robert A. Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction. "For the full year 2007, nonresidential building will still register expansion, but the recent ups and downs for this sector suggest that tighter credit conditions are beginning to have some dampening impact."
Nonresidential building construction decreased 14 percent in November. In the commercial category, the construction gains were 8 percent for warehouses. Declines were 7 percent for manufacturing plants, 11 percent for stores, 14 percent for offices and 31 percent for hotels. In the institutional category, amusement-related construction rose 4 percent, churches climbed 5 percent and public buildings increased 7 percent. Educational buildings slipped 11 percent, health care facilities fell 20 percent and transportation terminals decreased 33 percent.
Residential building construction declined 10 percent in November. Single-family housing decreased 6 percent. Multifamily housing fell 20 percent.
"The single-family correction has turned out to be even more extended and severe than first believed, and the rising inventory of unsold homes and tighter lending standards mean that construction in 2008 will be even lower than this year," Murray says.
Total construction activity during November dropped 10 percent compared with the same period in 2006. Nonbuilding construction increased 4 percent. Nonresidential building climbed 3 percent, and residential building construction dropped 24 percent. By geographic region, Northeast decreased 6 percent; Midwest slipped 8 percent; South Central declined 10 percent; West fell 12 percent; and South Atlantic dropped 13 percent.
Link Found Between Asbestos Exposure and Larynx Cancer
As legislation to create a $140 billion asbestos injury compensation fund is stalled in Congress, the U.S. Senate asked the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine to study possible links between asbestos exposure and various forms of cancer.
Currently, asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma. However, other types of cancers listed in the legislation have not been officially linked to asbestos.
After conducting research, the institute issued a report that concludes asbestos exposure is linked to larynx cancer. A panel from the institute found nine studies that support the connection.
"We are asking the Institute of Medicine to give further study and a more definitive answer as to a possible causal connection between asbestos and phartyngeal, stomach and colorectal cancers," says Committee Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), cosponsor of the bill.
The panel already has found inconclusive evidence of a relationship between asbestos exposure and colorectal, stomach and upper throat cancers; however, the findings are insufficient to establish a relationship between these cancers and asbestos.
"Lots of people have been exposed to asbestos, and they will have various diseases during their lifetime. The asbestos fund cannot reimburse them for every illness unless that illness is tied to asbestos exposure," says Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).
Senate Vote to Repeal Estate Tax Falls Short
Last week, Senate Republicans attempted to force a vote to repeal the estate tax. However, complete repeal of the tax lost because the motion for cloture to shut off debate received only 57 out of the required 60 votes.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) indicated the bill will be revisited by Congress again this year. Frist brought the measure up for a vote in an attempt to show Republican support for the issue and demonstrate that a compromise may be necessary. After a compromise is reached, another vote will take place.
Currently, the estate tax is reduced annually and will be repealed permanently in 2010. However, it will be fully reinstated in 2011 if Congress does not vote to change the bill.
NRCA has received a number of requests from members outside the state of Florida asking what is required to do work there. Unfortunately, the answer is fairly complicated.
Florida has a licensing law that requires all roofing work to be performed by licensed Florida contractors. The license requirements are fairly rigorous and include successfully completing an examination, among other things. Out-of-state contractors can receive licenses to work in Florida but are not allowed to work as subcontractors for licensed Florida contractors.
In light of the recent rash of hurricanes, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush issued two executive orders in an attempt to get more roofing work done. The first allows licensed residential, building and general contractors to perform roofing repairs and reroofing projects in certain counties affected by Hurricane Charley. The order does not extend to metal or tile roofing.
The second executive order allows local jurisdictions to issue limited specialty roofing licenses to in-state and out-of-state contractors who fulfill certain requirements. First, they must present an affidavit of competency from their original jurisdiction signed by the building official or designee. Second, they must have proof of Florida workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Third the license applies only to wood shakes, and asphalt and fiberglass shingles. It is valid for a 90-day period.
NRCA was told that meeting the Florida workers' compensation insurance requirement can be problematic. If a contractor cannot obtain insurance through typical means, it is available through the Florida Joint Underwriting Authority–but out-of-state contractors can expect to pay a surcharge of about 25 percent.
NRCA and the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors (FRSA) Inc. have written to Gov. Bush urging him, by executive order, to allow out-of-state roofing contractors to work for licensed Florida roofing contractors under a set of reasonable conditions. NRCA has heard estimates from Florida roofing contractors that as many as 250,000 roofs need extensive repair or replacement.
NOAA Predicts VERY Active 2006 North Atlantic Hurricane Season
NOAA today announced to America and its neighbors throughout the north Atlantic region that a very active hurricane season is looming, and encouraged individuals to make preparations to better protect their lives and livelihoods. May 21-27 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
During a news conference at the NOAA National Hurricane Center, Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson noted, "Preparation is the key message that President Bush wants to convey during National Hurricane Preparedness Week. The impact from these storms extends well beyond coastal areas so it is vital that residents in hurricane prone areas get ready in advance of the hurricane season."
For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher," added retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
On average, the north Atlantic hurricane season produces 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes, including two major hurricanes. In 2005, the Atlantic hurricane season contained a record 28 storms, including 15 hurricanes. Seven of these hurricanes were considered "major," of which a record four hit the United States. "Although NOAA is not forecasting a repeat of last year's season, the potential for hurricanes striking the U.S. is high," added Lautenbacher.
Warmer ocean water combined with lower wind shear, weaker easterly trade winds, and a more favorable wind pattern in the mid-levels of the atmosphere are the factors that collectively will favor the development of storms in greater numbers and to greater intensity. Warm water is the energy source for storms while favorable wind patterns limit the wind shear that can tear apart a storm's building cloud structure.
This confluence of conditions in the ocean and atmosphere is strongly related to a climate pattern known as the multi-decadal signal, which has been in place since 1995. Since then, nine of the last 11 hurricane seasons have been above normal, with only two below-normal seasons during the El Niño years of 1997 and 2002.
With neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions expected across the equatorial Pacific during the next three to six months, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center scientists say that neither El Niño nor La Niña likely will be a factor in this year's hurricane season.
"Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare," said Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center. "One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season."
The north Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. NOAA will issue a mid-season update in early August just prior to the normal August through October peak in activity.
The north Atlantic hurricane seasonal outlook is a product of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center and Hurricane Research Division. The NOAA National Hurricane Center has hurricane forecasting responsibilities for the north Atlantic as well as the east Pacific regions.
NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.
Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, 61 countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
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St Lucie County Florida Cities/Towns - Fort Pierce (County Seat) FL, Hutchinson Island FL, Port St. Lucie FL, St. Lucie Village FL, Lee County Florida Cities/Towns - Alva FL, Boca Grande FL, Bokeelia FL, Bonita Springs FL, Captiva FL, Cape Coral FL, Estero FL, Fort Myers (County Seat) FL, Fort Myers Beach FL, Fort Myers Shores FL, Fort Myers Villas FL, Lehigh Acres FL, North Fort Myers FL, Page Park FL, Pine Island Center FL, Punta Rassa FL, Sanibel FL, San Carlos Park FL, St. James City FL, Tice FL, Waterway Estates
Charlotte County Florida Cities/Towns - Cleveland FL, Grove City FL, Palm Island FL, Placida FL, Port Charlotte FL, Punta Gorda (County Seat) FL, Rotonda FL, Solana
Martin County Florida Cities/Towns - Arundel FL, Hobe Sound FL, Hutchinson Island South FL, Indiantown FL, Jensen Beach FL, Jupiter Island FL, Ocean Breeze Park FL, Palm City FL, Sewall's Point FL, Stuart (County Seat)
