Photos: Iconic Tustin blimp hanger destroyed in fire

Will Conybeare
·4 min read
5

Residents from around Orange County woke up on Tuesday to the devastating news that one of the hangars at the historic Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin was destroyed by a massive fire.

The blaze began around 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Photos of the blaze can be viewed below:

  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived. (OnSceneTV)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived. (OnSceneTV)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    As of 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, the hangar was still burning, with fire officials concerned that the structure will completely collapse. (KTLA)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    As of 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, the hangar was still burning, with fire officials concerned that the structure will completely collapse. (KTLA)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived. (OnSceneTV)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived. (OnSceneTV)
  • Historic hangar at former air base engulfed in flames
    The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived. (OnSceneTV)
  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • People take cell phone images as a historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    People take cell phone images as a historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire Tuesday destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire Tuesday destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • Two spectators take pictures as a historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    Two spectators take pictures as a historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • Spectators watch as a historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    Spectators watch as a historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • A historic blimp hangar, right, burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    A historic blimp hangar, right, burns in Tustin, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. A fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
  • Firefighters work to control a blaze at the north blimp hangar at the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin in Tustin, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Fire raged Tuesday in a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP)
    Firefighters work to control a blaze at the north blimp hangar at the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin in Tustin, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Fire raged Tuesday in a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California. (Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP)

The two hangars located at the site are two of the world’s largest freestanding wooden structures and are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During the Second World War, large fleets of blimps were kept there, and more recently, the facility was used to house helicopters and blimps for sporting events.

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