Minou and Me

Special-effects fire destroys movie set

ROBERT MATAS

A fire ignited by a special-effects crew during the filming of Case 39 starring Renée Zellweger suddenly raged out of control Tuesday night, destroying the movie set and engulfing the Vancouver warehouse where the filming was taking place.

The warehouse roof collapsed minutes later, Assistant Fire Chief George Whitehurst said.

None of the actors were on the set when the fire erupted, unit publicist Julia Frittaion said. Two crew members and two special-effects people suffered minor burns. Assistant Fire Chief Whitehurst said three firefighters on the scene, who reacted so quickly that they did not have time to put on their gloves, suffered burns to their hands.

Filming of Case 39, expected to be completed next week, continued yesterday at another location. Ms. Frittaion said the fire had started during the final shooting at the warehouse.