Historic WWII Blimp Hangar in Tustin Destroyed by Fire; Investigations Continue Amid No Reported Injuries

Aircraft hangar at Tustin Air Base, used in WWII and backdrop for film and TV productions, collapses in major blaze; Firefighters deliberately opt for monitored collapse to protect personnel as the iconic structure goes up in flames.

The historic WWII-era blimp hangar at the Tustin Air Base in Orange County, California, was destroyed by a massive fire reported around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
Upon determining that the wooden hangar's collapse was inevitable due to the scale and nature of the fire, firefighters monitored its collapse to contain the flames and protect personnel.
Commissioned in 1942, the hangar was used to house military blimps for submarine patrol during WWII and later served as the home port for a dozen blimps and about 100 military helicopters during the Vietnam War.
Apart from its military significance, the hangar became an iconic landmark featured in several blockbuster movies and popular TV shows including “Pearl Harbor”, “Star Trek”, and “The X Files”.
Authorities used helicopters and ground crews in a major effort to manage the fire and avert personnel injuries; no injuries were reported.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.