Historic hangar at former air base in Orange County goes up in flames 

I suspect arson. I was stationed aboard MCAS Tustin for years and know the wooden hangars were treated with fire preventatives. Hangar One was also on the national historic registry, hence could not be touched. Hangar Two has no such protection. The land the hangars are sitting on is worth about a billion dollars. Ask yourself, who benefits?

The cause of the fire might be solved when you look at anyone trying to develop the site.

I can't believe this is an accident. The city has been trying to tear these down for years and build high occupancy buildings, but it gets opposed every time.

Arson...no doubt about it.

Based on what is being said in the comments, it's very suspicious!

I bet soon Someone is going to build couple of thousands of $4k x month rental apartments.

Somebody wants the land I bet.

Don’t think it was a accident for years builders wanted the land 😤

This is a great loss of American history...

Now the 15-minute city developers will be standing in line to build "affordable" housing at 30% OC medium income rental rates...

Expensive land is now available.

I've lived in OC all my life, these were special landmarks in the center of OC, seeing them along the 55 fwy heading to the Beach. This was no accident, this is an act of a Terrorist.

How convenient. Looks like developers need one old building gone. This fire stinks to high heaven. What were they storing in the building and was there a fire sprinkler system installed?

This breaks my heart! It’s a cherished childhood memory.

Don't think it's strange that the same thing will happen to the other hangar that is still standing soon, someone is being hindered and needs to have that land

I was stationed at that base, Marine Corps Air Station (H) from '73 to '75. El Toro was the fighter jet base and this was the helicopter base. I walked many hours on guard duty in those creepy buildings, aerial bombardment from the huge barn owls living in them was a constant possibility. Part of the movie "The Hindenberg" with george c. scott was filmed there.

I remember driving by these historic hangars growing up in Orange County

This just breaks my heart ❤ I grew up in Tustin during the Vietnam War & it was a very busy base training 18 yr old Marines to fly Helicopters! Then ship them over to Vietnam. We met alot of Marines based there & got a tour inside those Hangers. They are Massive in size! It's a very sad day! 😔 We all know who arranged this fire. 😏 S.O.B.

Sad. Its always tragic to lose history 😔

Follow the money! Check insurance coverage.

What is the irony of this we already know medium they will sugar-coated we know what's going on

WHO STARTED THAT?

Not one single piece of that building has collapsed OUTWARD. For some reason they seem to want this building to go away. Look at the helicopter footage, there's nothing on the ground around the building, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out how/where the collapse will go.

ARSON..?? Developers want the land one way or another..?? One wonders.....

Sad to say. It had to be arson.. regulations. This couldn’t of happened..

I just don’t think this was an accident. Someone and others, like those department constructing companies must be celebrating this “accident.”

What was the cause of the fire?

Personal Reasons And Now Going To Be A New Star Bucks And Muffins Ah Taco Bell or Ooo Popeyes

Finally getting rid of those pesky landmarks. Developers are standing by. $$$$$$$

i could be wrong but when i worked security at the legacy mall next to it. the good year blimp used that hanger for maintenance. i loved seeing that blimp get pulled out early mornings and flown around for test then to set off for the next days work at the stadiums. really sad to see

How did this happen???? What a waste!

How sad...

Well,...there go my plans to visit and document them both next time I was in the area. And this one was way more picturesque imo.

Good bye history , hello high priced high rise apartments and office buildings?

*I'm surprised the front is still standing*

This was deliberate....they want the land.

Why didn’t it have a sprinkler system installed inside? After the fire in France at Norte dame you would think they would make sprinklers mandatory in all large wooden buildings that are historic like the hangers here

I’m sure it was done on purpose ,all by design..🐁🖤👹🤥🤥

Smell fishi this developers they now how to do this!

No fire sprinklers? I know that most hangers require them.

It’s just sad that history is being erased

Now how in the hell can that happen, with out someone setting it for some kind of profit scheme. Builders have been after that property for years, sounds CROOKED TO Me for sure.

This is not an accident ; I’m very familiar to that place and that old hanger. Some property developers wanted the place , don’t believe a thing

Well, let's all just get along with the redevelomt plan, folks. They can build some affordable homes for the nearly rich.😮

They were blimp hangars. Land just got to be too valuable.

They're not both listed anymore

There is one of these near Tillamook, Oregon. We always looked on it with wonder at its size. I had a friend that would freak out in a panic attack every time she drove by it. Weirdo. LOL.

Mad respect to the chief.

This is good news, now they can build luxury condos for illegals.

You could smell it heavy early this morning driving up the 55 North. End of an era.

Things like this dont just happen so who did it and why?

Went to Refueler School there. We use to play baskeball in one of them too. Fond memories of Tustin LTA. Flew from there to 29 Palms many times. I was there 79-80 & 81-84. I even did that " Mud Run" in those waterfilled ditches lol. Bet I sucked up some Cancer from all the toxic mess we dump there. I heard the entire area is all developed now. In 1979 the entire base was surrounded by Orange Groves & Fields. Good luck with the Developers cleaning up the toxic waste that was there and EL TORO MAW. They use to do Crash Crew burns all the time there. They'll proberly build a school right over top of those burn sports. Heard it is all developed now.

I first learned about these hangers by watching Huell Howser on public television's California's Gold , very interesting video, that's still available & huell howser was a former marine. Ooh- Rah !

Nine days have passed since 11/7/2023. The heavy rain all day yesterday completely extinguished the fire. Therefore, we are very fortunate that there was no smoke all day today, so we are sure that the fire has been completely extinguished by the heavy rain. However, we were still worried that someone would light a fire and burn the remaining frames. Sure enough, at around 9pm in the evening, we stood on the balcony and found the fire suddenly started again. We were shocked. How Could it be!!! that fire had been extinguished by the heavy rain before at Least 30 hours , Then suddenly catch fire again???? This is simply unreasonable. How could a fire which already entirely extinguished by the heavy rain , but after 30 hours suddenly catch fire again !!!? ? ? Who is controlling this fire? ? ? Who is keeping this fire burning, and for what purpose? ? ? it have been completely extinguished by the heavy rain, and there is no fire and smoke around 30 hours, but it can be ignited again after 30 hours?! It's super terrible!!!

Redevelopment will take place very shortly. Money to be made.

PROLLY SOME DEVELOPERS WANTED THAT LAND!! Fight On!! ✌✌

How to get rid of something, then blame it on another. Strange thing....They have been there (forever) and upgraded fire suppression systems...Yet it burns. Go figure :)

No mention of what was stored inside, or what uses the hanger typically used inside.

Insurance claim...

Rebuild it

After one week!!! The fire is still going on now , black smoke is billowing heavily, the air is so pungent, all the neighbors here feel like even can't breathe normally, headache because of the black smoke !!! We can't understand why still not stop the fire 🔥😭.

crazy how this actually went down

This has gotta be a "super fund" base. The smoke has to be toxic.

*It could be rebuilt, however, these daze a lack of imagination and lack of motivation will prevent it. Does not look like a total loss*

nothing of value to save... the hangar is of value 😥

It’s very simple. Who benefits from the burning down. Question is will the city actually investigate this! So sick of greed destroying our history. Even destroying CSA statues does harm by letting people forget. I hope the catch the culprit cuz

welp...might need the space for the Migrants

Met my ex husband at the Eclub on El Toro 34 years ago. Great memories 😢

Remember that Movie Back Draft ?!?

The aircraft that was lost !! Sad . The jet fuel the av gas . .. insures the destruction…

I was stationed at El Toro as an armourer on F-4 Phantom's...in the late 70's... God love them... Anyway...one of these hangers was being used for an old aircraft museum and the other was being used for trade shows... History sometimes comes and goes... Sad thing is less stays and more goes...

They can start building the high density housing now.

Didn't Mythbusters use this hangar a time or two?

Oh the humanity...

One can only wonder what was being kept in this facility?

No fire hoses, no fire hydrants. They don't build them like that anymore.

All the old wood hangars here in South Florida seemed to suddenly catch fire and burn down soon prior to scheduled demolition, as well. Hmmm... yeah.

Still don’t think we’re invaded? For the past 6 months at least

It always seems that Californians just quit trying, when it comes to saving anything. This. Their people. Their own Democracy. Their lives. Their society. Everything.

Damn

Fire fighter: theres nothing we can do... ugh fight the fire

Sad. I was there 1983

I lived in base housing here, back in 80/81when reagan stopped by for a wave..

Arson ,burnt down for push to develop

Destroying or erasing history one piece at a time, be it a statue or a hanger

It could not be burned by itself.

Shady af!

Suddenly fires have become fun for some people

Firer Doesn’t Just Start Arson

Only need one structure to keep the legacy alive

All part of the societal demolition

Tell us how this was an accident! LOL!

Terrorists or Demoncraps?

I heard tustin high school was supposed to be relocated there 🤔

*OH THE HUMANITY!*

The Justin hangar can be rebuilt.

We'll see who buys the land!

So sad, what a historic lost.

California can afford to rebuild. Arson means jobs man.

Developers on way.