Tustin Hangar Destroyed by Fire

Fire officials in Orange County, California are poring through the smoldering remains of a 1940s-era airship hangar, trying to determine what set it ablaze Tuesday morning.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, November 09, 2023 at 05:46 PM ET

Verified

The fire destroyed the historic north hangar of the former Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin. [Credit: FlynntheProtogen - CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED/Wikimedia Commons]

Key Takeaways:

A historic 1940s-era airship hangar, one of the world's largest free-standing wooden structures, was completely destroyed by a massive three-alarm fire in Tustin, Orange County.
Due to the rapid burning and structural instability of the Oregon Douglas fir building, firefighters could not enter and safely fought the blaze from the outside as it collapsed.
The fire has caused significant health concerns for nearby residents, as debris tested positive for asbestos, prompting air quality warnings and ongoing monitoring.
The cause of the fire, which occurred on Navy property, remains undetermined and is currently under investigation.

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Fire officials in Orange County, California, are poring through the smoldering remains of a 1940s-era airship hangar, trying to determine what set it ablaze Tuesday morning. The fire at the north hangar of the former Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin was so massive that it garnered a response of three alarms, equating to 70 firefighters, 11 engines, five trucks, and water-dropping helicopters.

The building, constructed mostly of Oregon Douglas fir, burned rapidly. According to captain Drew Garcia, Orange County Fire Authority, it was too dangerous to send firefighters into the structure because of its free-standing design.