Tustin hangar continues to burn, delaying cleanup and raising new concerns about air quality

On the heels of efforts to launch a cleanup at the historic Tustin hangar that went up in flames last week, releasing asbestos and other toxic substances into the air, the fire reignited over the weekend and continued to burn on Monday.

The flare-ups, which occurred Saturday and again on Sunday, were somewhat expected as the size and shape of the structure made it impossible for fire crews to fully extinguish the blaze when it first erupted, said Tustin Police Lt. Ryan Coe.

Fire officials continued to monitor the site on Monday to make sure embers weren’t carried to nearby structures, but they have determined the safest course of action is to allow the blaze to burn itself out. Dropping thousands of gallons of water on the structure would probably kick up debris and send particles — possibly containing asbestos — into the air, Coe said.

“At the end of the day our primary concern is the debris itself,” he said. “Yes, we don’t like smoke, but that debris has the potential contamination of asbestos in it, so we don’t want those particles in the air.”

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The fire could continue to smolder for days, officials said.

Meanwhile, all Tustin schools remained closed Monday, with facilities set to be cleaned of debris possibly contaminated with asbestos.

The Tustin Unified School District has hired an environmental consulting firm to test all its campuses for potential fire-related contamination.

As of Monday afternoon, a dozen schools had been checked for asbestos and were expected to reopen Tuesday. Virtual classes will be offered for students in grades three through 12 who attend schools that have not yet been cleared of possible contamination. Younger students are being instructed to work independently at home on school-provided materials, according to the district.

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Coe said late Sunday that the hangar’s west wall, which didn’t previously have substantial fire damage, was aflame.

The north hangar was one of two enormous wooden structures on the property, 17 stories high, 1,000 feet long and 300 feet wide, that were used by the military during World War II and later served as sets for the TV show “Star Trek” and the film “Pearl Harbor.”

The hangar first caught fire early last week, creating a spectacle and prompting concerns about air quality for residents living nearby. Authorities have not determined how the fire started.

Coe said Monday that firefighters were currently in a “strictly defensive posture.”

“The structure itself is so unstable that we can’t risk putting a first responder anywhere near it to try to fight the fire and risk their own lives,” he said.

Rain is expected to fall in the coming days, however. Coe said the expected weather would aid fire crews’ efforts.

“The particles in the air will settle down, which is a good thing,” he said. The rain will help “rinse off and wash off the ash in areas. And obviously from the fire-suppression side, it’s a good thing.”

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Structural and demolition experts had begun examining the structure Sunday to determine the next steps. Additionally, abatement and remediation teams began cleaning affected public rights-of-way north of the hangar.

After air quality experts discovered asbestos at the site, the Tustin Unified School District closed all campuses Thursday.

The city also closed several public parks and canceled a planned Veterans Day celebration over health concerns stemming from possible contamination.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously ratified a local emergency proclamation, which will help the county obtain necessary resources for remediation.

Supervisor Katrina Foley also called on the South Coast Air Quality Management District to “step it up a notch with testing air quality.”

“We also need the Navy to take the lead on the cleanup of their property and burning building instead of leaving it to our local community,” she said. “We know the air quality around the Tustin hangar is bad. We want to ensure families in surrounding neighborhoods and cities take precaution.”