Home Care In Tustin, CA

Workers were tearing down a massive World War II blimp hangar at the former Tustin Marine Base this weekend in an effort to put out remaining hot spots of a stubborn fire that broke out earlier this month, while officials cautioned the public to avoid t...

TUSTIN, Calif. (CNS) -- Workers were tearing down a massive World War II blimp hangar at the former Tustin Marine Base this weekend in an effort to put out remaining hot spots of a stubborn fire that broke out earlier this month, while officials cautioned the public to avoid the area Monday with high winds in the forecast.

On Saturday, authorities said details of the hangar's deconstruction plan were being finalized, with the project planned to take place over the next 24 to 48 hours.

"The intent of this effort is to extinguish all remaining hot spots of the hangar fire," according to a statement by the Incident Management Team. "At the present time, no action will be taken on the hangar doors or concrete pillars, which will be addressed upon completion of this first step. A plan is being developed to stabilize the doors in place for the safety of our workers and the public."

On Sunday, officials at the OC Animal Care Center said the facility will temporarily close to the public Monday and Tuesday, "due to the upcoming high wind event forecasted by the National Weather Service, the shelter's close proximity to the north hangar and the city of Tustin Incident Management Team announcement of the controlled deconstruction of the remaining structure, as well as the continued effort to prioritize the health and safety of staff, visitors, and animals on campus."

Staff will continue to be on-site caring for more than 450 animals, and all activities are being shifted indoors when possible.

Residents with animal-related emergencies were asked to call 714-935-6848 to speak to a dispatcher, but officials said response times might be longer than usual.

The OC Animal Care Center is located at 1630 Victory Road in Tustin.

The fire destroyed the iconic hangar in the early morning of Nov. 7. A later "flare-up" renewed environmental concerns. Debris and ash from the fire showed the presence of asbestos, prompting authorities to issue warnings about unhealthy air and urge residence to remain indoors with windows and doors closed.

Monitoring at the former Marine Corps Air Station at Warner Avenue and Legacy Road was to be performed at 33 locations through the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. That includes dust monitors around the immediate perimeter and monitoring and sampling stations around the fence line and in the surrounding community providing real-time data, officials said.

Heavy equipment will remove debris and clear roadways so water trucks can access all areas of the hangar, officials said. Excavators will knock down what's left of the west-facing wall to enable access to heavy debris and deep seeding smoldering fires and remove hanging debris along both walls. Water trucks will put out hot spots and control dust.

The Tustin Unified School District canceled classes for about a week after the fire and the Orange County Board of Supervisors issued an emergency proclamation.

The school district said Utt Middle School, Hicks Canyon Elementary, Tustin Ranch Elementary and Tustin Connect High School/Education Support Center have been cleared and will resume on-campus instruction when schools return from the holiday recess on Nov. 27.

The hangar and a twin facility at the former base are more than 1,000 feet long and 300 feet wide. They are listed on the national Register of Historic Places.

They have been featured in television and films, including "JAG," "The X-Files," "Austin Powers," "Pearl Harbor" and "Star Trek."

All Tustin Unified School District schools will again be closed on Monday as emergency workers continue to assess the environmental impact left behind by a devastating fire that ravaged one of the two World War II blimp hangars located on the Tustin Air Base.

Schools were first closed on Thursday after air quality experts detected asbestos at the historic hangar, located at Valencia Avenue and Armstrong Road, that caught fire on November 8.

"We have secured a certified asbestos consulting firm, Envirocheck, to conduct testing at all TUSD campuses," District officials said in a statement. "Envirocheck is well-respected in the field of environmental inspection and analysis and we are grateful for their partnership. Their expertise in testing and remediation of environmental concerns will guide our next steps for reopening our campuses. Our top priority remains getting our students and staff safely back on campus."

TUSD officials have provided a detailed breakdown of the campuses most impacted by their proximity to the burn site, which can be found on their district website.

Parents and students will be notified as campuses are cleared for in-person education.

Early Monday morning, district officials said that some campuses would be fully reopened on Tuesday, including:

For students at campuses that will remain closed Tuesday, staff is working to put contingency plans into place that include virtual learning for grades 3 through 12.

As they continue to work hand-in-hand with local authorities like the South Coast Air Quality management and Orange County Health Care Agency officials, Tustin City Council members on Friday unanimously voted on an agreement with the United States Navy, which owns the base, to immediately begin remediation efforts caused by the blaze.

The deal, which has not yet been finalized, will at least allow $1 million to correct health and safety impacts on the Tustin community, but if assessments and remediation exceed that amount, the deal can be amended as necessary. Additionally, the agreement calls for the demolition of the parts of the hangar that are still standing.

The fire started at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday last week, completely destroying the massive hangar, which stands about 17 stories high, that was first used by United States military troops during World War II.

On Saturday, at around 5:30 p.m., the structure experienced a flare-up, four days after the blaze first began. As with the initial fire, Orange County Fire Authority crews simply let the flames burn themselves out. Due to the size of the structure and the difficulty that firefighters would have in reaching the flames, they have allowed the fire to consume the structure.

Late Sunday, Tustin city officials announced that the fire had again reignited, this time in the building's west wall. SkyCal flew overhead, showing the active flames and billowing smoke.

While the incident persists, Orange County health officials are urging residents to limit their time outside and keep windows and doors shut.

"Everyone should be aware of the recommended precautions to reduce the health effects of smoke and ash from building fires," said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the Orange County Health Care Agency Director of Public Health Services. "Extra measures may be needed for those with pre-existing medical conditions like heart or lung disease, those with disabilities, older adults, children and those who may be working outdoors."

OCHA listed a number of measures that the public can take to stay safe, including:

In the years since, it was a popular location for the Hollywood industry, featured in productions like "Star Trek," "Austin Powers," "Pearl Harbor" and "The X-Files," among others.

Dean Fioresi

Dean Fioresi is a web producer at KCAL News in Los Angeles. He covers breaking news throughout Southern California. When he's not writing about local events, he enjoys focusing on sports and entertainment.

Navy officials announced this week that a $6-million contract has been awarded to an environmental cleanup firm to remove the debris that was released when a historic 17-story hangar in the city of Tustin caught fire.

There is no start date yet for the work awarded to ECC Environmental LCC.

The fire at one of two blimp hangars built in 1942 started Nov. 7 and burned for 24 days. The south hangar was not damaged. The two structures were part of a Marine Corps air station that closed in 1997. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to city officals.

The Navy has agreed to pay Tustin $11 million toward the cleaning and repairs from the damage caused when fumes and debris from the fire drifted through the city. Tustin officials reported that the cost associated with the recovery may exceed $100 million. As the fire burned, residents feared that ash and debris from the World War II-era hangar contained asbestos.

Orange County’s top public health officer said Dec. 15 that there “is no concern regarding airborne asbestos” from the fire.

Residents have been instructed to report debris via a website where they can find regular updates on the hangar cleanup efforts.

California

Nov. 13, 2023

According to a Dec. 20 city update, “certified asbestos consultants and asbestos mitigation teams” had completed 12 residential inspections and mitigations and 12 inspections. A total of 1,144 reports of debris have been filed with the city, with 1,143 inspected and 975 “mitigated and cleared,” according to the report.

City officials and the Navy said they are bringing down the remaining pieces of the hangar in a joint effort to avoid hazardous materials from further contaminating the city.

The deconstruction process of the hangar began Dec. 5, according to city officials.

Certified asbestos consultants and mitigation teams completed inspections of all public rights of way in Tustin as of Dec. 11. All public parks are open, according to a city report.

The city reported that all 29 Tustin Unified School District schools have been inspected for hazardous debris, including asbestos, and are open. Legacy Magnet Academy, one of the schools closest to the hangars, was the last to reopen, on Wednesday.

Consider starting your weekend this Saturday with a free, family-friendly story time at Tustin Library on Saturday morning. Finish out the day with a sunset hike offering panoramic views of Orange County.

On Sunday, think about an amazing family hike led by OC Parks through the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Or, if you’re looking for child-free events, enjoy an adults-only movie screening at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library on Sunday afternoon.

These are just some of the free events you’ll find in the Voice of OC weekend calendar – put together by reporters sourcing a host of public records about park, recreational and library events across Orange County.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL CALENDAR HERE

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That same kind of reporting now fuels a vibrant weekend calendar, choc full of free services and assets your tax dollars finance.

Here are a few noteworthy free events happening this weekend.

Saturday, November 18

Family Storytime at Tustin Library

The Tustin Library will be hosting a family storytime for all ages.

When: 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Where: Tustin Library, located at 345 E Main St, Tustin, CA 92780

Cost: Free

For more details, contact the library at (714) 544-7725, or email [email protected].

Loteria at Westminster Library

Take the family to play the classic Mexican game Loteria at Westminster Library.

Loteria is similar to bingo, but it utilizes a deck of cards.

When: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: Westminster Library, located at 8180 13th St, Westminster, CA 92683

Cost: Free

For more details, contact the library at (714) 893-5057, or email [email protected].

Sunset Fitness Hike at Irvine Ranch Open Space

Enjoy panoramic views of Orange County on a sunset fitness hike in the OC Parks Irvine Ranch Open Space. The 6 mile hike will take attendees over Loma Ridge on a paved path, known as Hicks Haul Road.

The hike requires advanced registration from those that would like to attend.

When: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd, Silverado, CA 92676

Cost: Free

For more details, contact Irvine Ranch Conservancy at (714) 508-4757, or email [email protected].

Sunday, November 19

Basic Tech Help at Irvine University Park Library

For adults needing assistance with using technology, Irvine University Park Library is hosting a Basic Tech Help workshop.

Attendees are welcome to bring their own laptop, or use one at the library.

When: 11:00 a.m.

Where: Irvine University Park Library, located at 4512 Sandburg Way, Irvine, CA 92612

Cost: Free

For more details, contact the library at (949) 786-4001, or email [email protected].

Adult-Only Movie Screening at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library is screening All the President’s Men Sunday afternoon.

When: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library, 1855 Park Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Cost: Free

For more details, contact the library at (949) 646-8845, or email [email protected].

Family Hike at Agua Chinon

Immerse your kids in Orange County’s natural landscape through an evening family hike through Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

The hike, which travels through Agua Chinon starting at 3:00 p.m., requires advance registration.

When: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd, Silverado, CA 92676

Cost: Free

For more details, contact Irvine Ranch Conservancy at (714) 508-4757, or email [email protected].

If you know of a free public agency event that the Voice of OC should be aware of, send an email to [email protected]

For more events, please refer to the Voice of OC Calendar.

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County and city officials have declared a local state of emergency on Thursday after poor air quality, asbestos and toxins were found after a fire destroyed a historic air base hangar in Tustin.

On Wednesday, samples of debris and ash were collected in areas near the hangar and lab testing confirmed the presence of asbestos lead, arsenic and nickel, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Residents are urged to “exercise caution to reduce exposure during the clean-up of structural fire debris,” said the Orange County Health Care Agency.

According to the emergency proclamation from the city of Tustin, health officials have “conducted air quality samples which showed elevated levels of chemicals of potential public health concerns.”

Air samples collected from public areas near the hangar and in local communities are also being analyzed for “gaseous air toxics, such as benzene.” Long-term environmental testing is anticipated as results are being processed.

“Everyone should be aware of the recommended precautions to reduce the health effects of smoke and ash from building fires,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer and OC Health Care Agency’s Director of Public Health Services. “Extra measures may be needed for those with pre-existing medical conditions like heart or lung disease, those with disabilities, older adults, children, and those who may be working outdoors.”

The fire was discovered on Tuesday at the former Marine Corps Air Station. Flames engulfed the north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, which was mostly destroyed.

The twin blimp hangars – which measure 17 stories tall, 1,000 feet long and 300 feet wide – have been at Warner Avenue in Tustin since World War II and have been home to a fleet of blimps and eventually helicopters. The hangars were decommissioned in 1999.

They are two of the world’s largest freestanding wooden structures and both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property is still owned by the U.S. Navy and the investigation will eventually be turned over to the military.

Those who may be impacted by windblown smoke, dust or ash should take these precautions:

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries have been reported so far. Results from the debris and air quality testing will be posted here.