Fire destroyed a historic World War II-era hangar early Tuesday at the former Tustin Air Base that was a significant part of Orange County’s military history.
The fire was reported at about 1:30 a.m. near Valencia Avenue and Armstrong Road, where flames were shooting through the roof of the towering wooden hangar. Parts of the roof fell to the ground, and firefighters took up positions outside the hanger, which is typically empty, due to the threat of collapse.
The fire authority called in a helicopter to help fight the fire, something fire officials said was unheard of. The Chinook helicopters are used to fight wildfires.
Details about a cause were not immediately available. No injuries were reported.
“We have determined the most operationally sound method is to allow the structure to collapse, at which point ground crews can move in closer, and aggressively work to extinguish the fire,” the Orange County Fire Authority tweeted.
The fire is in hangars that once housed blimps used in World War II. They stand 17 stories high, are over 1,000 feet long and 300 feet wide. They were, and still are, two of the largest wooden structures ever built, according to the website Tustin Hangars.
The nearly 1,600-acre property was commissioned in 1942 and played a significant role in Navy and Marine aviation for half a century. In 1999, the air base was closed.
Angie Kardashian was in tears as she watched black smoke billow from what remained of the giant structure. Kardashian said she owned a restaurant in Tustin and fed Marines and families free Thanksgiving meals.
“I spent a lot of time in these hangars,” Kardashian said. “I climbed up on the hangars — I know I wasn’t supposed to — with the Marines. I have a piece of the hangar at home, hanging on my wall. I just can’t believe that this is happening.”
As Kardashian shared her story with NBCLA, one of the Marines she served arrived at the scene. They embraced as they watched a symbol of Tustin history burn.
Clay Dickson said he spoke with some of his Marine Corps colleagues Tuesday morning.
“Some on the East Coast knew it was burning even before I did,” Dickson said. “They’re devastated, too.”
A re-use plan was developed in 1996 and the city was working with the Navy on implementing that plan.
“Today’s a sad day,” said Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard. “These hangars mean so much more than being structures. Many have served on this base, worked inside the hangars. They’re part of Orange County’s past as a military community. It’s not the end for the North Hangar that was envisioned.”
The North Hangar’s roof was damaged in October 2013 during a powerful windstorm. The Navy stabilized the roof following the storm, but the building remained closed.
The South Hangar was not damaged in the overnight fire. Also known as Hangar 2, the building near Warner Avenue and Tustin Ranch Road is being evaluated for future use.
The hangars have been featured in television and films, including “JAG,” “The X Files,” “Austin Powers,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Star Trek.”
