Firefighters continue to monitor Tustin hangar fire with more Santa Ana winds expected
Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County firefighters continued their efforts on Wednesday, Nov. 8, to contain the fire at the north hangar at the long-closed Tustin Marine Corps Air Station from spreading outside the building’s footprint, with crews poised for more Santa Ana winds on Thursday, authorities said.
“The fire activity was very minimal (overnight),” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Thanh Nguyen said. “It was just stuff smoldering on the ground.”
The agency will have coverage on site for the next 24 hours in part because of the anticipated Santa Ana winds, Nguyen said.
Winds were mostly calm around Tustin on Wednesday, with speeds of about 10-15 mph, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Casey Oswant. By Thursday, Santa Ana winds were expected to peak with speeds of 15-20 mph, however those winds will likely hang around the Santa Ana Mountains.
Despite the slight breeze, far less smoke was visible from the hanger on Wednesday, said Captain Ben Gonzales.
Gonzales said that some smoke and ash could still pose a health risk for some Orange County residents.
Firefighters who have worked round-the-clock keep and eye on flare-ups at the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An eeriness consumes the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar as it smolders with hot spots on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. A fire destroyed one of the two WWII-era structures. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A day after the north hangar at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station caught fire half the building remains standing in Tustin, CA, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A day after the north hangar at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station caught fire half the building remains standing in Tustin, CA, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A day after the north hangar at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station caught fire half the building remains standing in Tustin, CA, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A day after the north hangar at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station caught fire half the building remains standing in Tustin, CA, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A day after the north hangar at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station caught fire half the building remains standing in Tustin, CA, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A day after the north hangar at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station caught fire half the building remains standing in Tustin, CA, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters were called to the massive hangar just before 12:55 a.m. Tuesday. With concerns of a roof collapse, firefighters attempted to battle the blaze from outside and at one point used three helicopters to dump water on the blaze.
However, about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, firefighters said for safety reasons they would allow the blaze to run its course. It sent tall columns of gray and brown smoke into the sky for much of the day.
The cause and origin of the fire were unknown as of Wednesday morning. Because of the continued smoldering, investigators have not yet been inside the building, Nguyen said.
“Our fire investigators were on scene yesterday, so they’ve done as much as they can from the outside, which is part of a normal investigation,” Nguyen said. “But as far as going inside, it’s still too early.”
The two hangars were built in 1942 for the air station to protect military blimps and are among the largest wooden structures ever constructed; military helicopters later parked inside them. The air station, owned by the U.S. Navy, shut down at 1999.
The iconic hangars, 17 stories high and 1,000 feet long, were visible for miles and been featured in television shows and films, among them “JAG,” “The X Files,” “Austin Powers,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Star Trek.”
