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California

Massive blaze at California WWII-era blimp hangar closes parks, schools due to asbestos

Tustin school district urging residents to avoid lingering smoke from WWII-era blimp hangar fire

Pilar Arias By Pilar Arias Fox News
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People living in a Southern California city were urged to stay inside while parks and schools were closed after officials found asbestos in the charred debris of a historical World War II-era blimp hangar.

The city of Tustin closed nine parks near the fire location to reduce residents' exposure to ash and canceled a Veterans Day event for this weekend, according to a Facebook post.

The Tustin Unified School District closed all school campuses on Thursday, apologizing for the timing of the news. There was no mention of what would happen on Friday, but a post on the district website reads, "[W]e will communicate with you throughout the weekend regarding important updates."

The blaze broke out early Tuesday at the massive wooden hangar, which was one of two built in 1942 by the U.S. Navy to house military blimps. At the time, the Navy often used airships for patrol and antisubmarine defense.

FIRE TEARS THROUGH HISTORICAL WWII BLIMP HANGAR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

  • Firefighters at historic hangar fire
    Image 1 of 3

    Firefighters battle a fire at the north hangar of Tustin Air Base in Tustin, California, on Nov. 7, 2023. (Paul Bersebach / Orange County Register via AP)

  • Smoke at historic WWII hangar in California
    Image 2 of 3

    Smoke can be seen billowing from the World War II-era hangar in Tustin, California, on Nov. 7, 2023. (Paul Bersebach / Orange County Register via AP)

  • Smoke and flames seen coming from California hangar
    Image 3 of 3

    Firefighters battle a fire at the north hangar of Tustin Air Base in Tustin, California, on Nov. 7, 2023. (Paul Bersebach / Orange County Register via AP)

Southern California air-quality regulators will continue to analyze samples from areas around the hangar for toxic gases and metals, the city said in a statement.

"Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition that is caused by prolonged exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air," the American Lung Association says on its website. "Though asbestosis is believed to be mostly an occupational disease, there are reports of secondhand exposure to asbestos containing dust."

The city of Tustin is about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

CALIFORNIA MOM RECOVERING AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR, SUSPECT ON THE LOOSE

  • Wide shot of blimp hangar on fire
    Image 1 of 3

    Fire destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California on Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo / Jae C. Hong)

  • Tustin fire scene aftermath
    Image 2 of 3

    Officials investigate the rubble of the historical Tustin Air Base hangar on Nov. 8, 2023, the day after a fire destroyed the World War II-era structure. (Mindy Schauer / Orange County Register via AP)

  • Police at hangar fire scene day later
    Image 3 of 3

    Police officers stand outside the destroyed historical Tustin Air Base blimp hangar on Nov. 8, 2023. (Mindy Schauer / Orange County Register via AP)

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The city's mayor is urging the Navy to expedite tearing down the structure's remains to clean up the site, according to the Orange County Register.

"I know the community doesn’t want to look at a half-burned remnant of what was the hangar, and we owe it to the community to take it down as safely and quickly as possible. It needs to be cleaned up quickly for health reasons and general optics," Mayor Austin Lumbar said, per the outlet.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.