Tustin: Historic Hangar Burns In Massive 3-Alarm Fire

11.07.2023 | 12:53 AM | TUSTIN - Massive flames consumed a historic blimp hangar on the former MCAS Tustin base in a fire that continues to burn, early Tuesday morning.

The fire was reported inside one of the two massive wood framed blimp hangars shortly before 1:00 AM.

When crews arrived they found heavy fire pouring out of the northern hangar and immediately called for additional resources to assist in battling the flames.

A lack of nearby fire hydrants delayed efforts to extinguish the blaze which have been ongoing for at least four hours and are expected to last into the late morning.

Massive flames consumed a historic blimp hangar on the former MCAS Tustin base in a fire that continues to burn, early Tuesday morning.Photo byMiles T. Madison for County News Service (CountyNews.TV)

A fire department helicopter was called in to drop water on the large hangar which had previously suffered damage during a storm.

Video shows a large portion of the building had collapsed as a result of the firefighting efforts.

Fire investigators are on scene working alongside local police to determine the cause of the blaze.

No injuries to firefighters or civilians were immediately reported but motorists are asked to avoid the area to accommodate firefighting efforts.

The fire likely marks the end of the scarred northern hangar which was one of the largest freestanding wood framed structures in the nation at one point.

Video and story by Miles Madison for County News Service.