By Tyler Josephson
The historic North Hangar at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (MCAS Tustin) burst into flames on Nov. 7 after 80 years of historic past.The landscape of central Orange County has forever been changed and waits for its future to be told, and the community waits to hear what will happen to the land.
MCAS Tustin was established in October 1942 and played a crucial role in World War II by housing many aircraft along the Pacific Ocean. Two large hangars, the North and South Hangars, were built to hold up to six airships each. Patrolling the Pacific Ocean during wartime, MCAS Tustin was a hotspot for American defense.
Each of the two hangars held up to six anti-submarine airships to provide coastal security. Photo courtesy of City of Tustin. 
The MCAS Tustin Hangars were built in 1942 to support US military security during WWII. Photo courtesy of City of Tustin.
The site was used by the US Marine Corps and US Navy as a major helicopter training facility until being decommissioned in 1999.
For the past 20 years, the large 17-story high wooden structures have stood and rotted under the Department of the Navy’s ownership. The hangars have been used as filming sites for movies and have been visited by its modern-day ‘nephew’ the Goodyear blimp but have remained untouched for many years.
Neighbors watched in despair as the North Hangar came crashing down in a fiery blaze last month. Investigations continue as a cause has not been yet identified. The fire launched debris and harmful asbestos throughout the city, burning for 24 days before being declared extinguished. A local emergency was declared because of an evident health crisis. Schools were closed, parks were taped off and civilians were told to stay indoors.
The City of Tustin has been cut short of support and funding to aid the major cleanup after the hangar fire. The Department of the Navy is expected to take financial responsibility for the post-fire cleanup measures and further steps taken but have only provided $1 million in an initial release.
The Department of the Navy is currently dismantling the large concrete hangar doors ahead of removing all the remaining debris.
According to the City of Tustin’s website, the surrounding area around MCAS Tustin sits within the “Tustin Legacy” area zone, a multi-use and residential community that captures the land’s history. With current planning documents to build a senior living community, new neighborhoods and more public parks within Tustin Legacy, the land in which the historic hangars sit upon will quickly be developed on.
While cleanup measures are the main priority, the City of Tustin has an innovative outlook for the large parcel of land occupied by the remains of MCAS Tustin.
