30th July 2006 - 007 stage at Pinewood Studios wrecked by fire

BBC News and Sky News this morning have reported that the 007 Stage at Iver Heath, UK has be wrecked by fire the second time in its life time.

The BBC News report: At least eight fire engines tackled the blaze at the set, where filming for the new movie Casino Royale has finished.

Eyewitness Jen McVean, who owns a firm at the studios in Iver Heath, said the stage was "completely on fire".

Ms McVean said she saw smoke from her garden and went to the site of the studios and found out her special effects firm was not affected by fire.

However, she said as far as she could see that the Bond stage, which she understood was being dismantled, was destroyed.

"Nothing is salvageable and there are many, many fire engines there," she added.

Ms McVean saw the black smoke billowing above the studios from her garden which is around a mile from the site.

A spokeswoman for the Buckinghamshire Fire Brigade said they were alerted at 11.18am on Sunday.

"We were called to a fire at the 007 stage at Pinewood Studios," he said.

The film, which reportedly has a budget of £39m ($72m), is partly based in Venice. The large sound stage had been transformed into a replica of the Italian city.

The roof of the large building covering the stage has caved in due to fire damage and firefighters are using specialist equipment to damp it down.

Pinewood has a long association with the Bond films, beginning with the first movie Dr No.

Pinewood which merged with Shepperton Studios in 2001 attracts a range of films of varying budgets. Together with Ealing, the three studios have formed the backbone of the British film industry for 70 years. 

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