Some slightly good news for Back to the Future fans. I just got off the phone with Universal and have confirmed that the Clock Tower used in the trilogy is still standing, after a huge fire broke out on the Universal Studios Backlot earlier today. The Courthouse square set surrounding the only slightly damaged Clock Tower is said to be completely destroyed. Universal’s New York Street is also said to be in ruins. Both Courthouse Square and the New York Street sets are again scheduled to be rebuilt.

The Courthouse Square set was not the original set used in the time-travel trilogy. Just after the sequels finished shooting, most the square was burned down in the 1990 fire (which also took down New York Street). It was rebuilt from the original blueprints.

The Los Angeles Times has a great article on the history of the sets destroyed in the fire.