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A year ago today, an historic World War II-era blimp hangar caught fire in Tustin, setting off a public health emergency as toxic debris from the fire fell over surrounding neighborhoods. The cleanup is ongoing and authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. The fire broke out in the early hours of Nov. 7, 2023. More than 100 firefighters and two water-dropping helicopters initially responded to the blaze.
Ultimately, firefighters decided the risk that the structure would collapse was too great, and they let the fire burn out. It took 24 days.The massive hangar — 17 stories high and covering an area larger than five football fields — contained a large amount of asbestos, a popular building material at the time now known to cause cancer and lung disease. Public health officials detected asbestos in fallout from the hangar fire at least three miles northeast of the hangar.
In August, workers finished deconstructing the massive hangar doors — the steel was recycled; the damaged wood, tainted with lead paint, was hauled off as hazardous waste, according to the Navy’sthat the hangar fire and aftermath had cost it $86.8 million as of late summer. The Navy has promised to reimburse the city up to $103.3 million for its emergency response to the fire, according to their latest agreement.
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