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Tustin Hangar Fire Contamination Results Are In: Here's What They Found
A Tustin icon — a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California — was destroyed by a fire last year.
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Jae C. Hong
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AP
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Topline:
The city of Tustin says 80 homes near the massive fire that engulfed an old Navy hangar last November all tested negative for elevated levels of asbestos and lead, with one small exception. An indoor dust sample at a Tustin home came back showing slightly elevated levels of lead.
Why now: Many Tustin residents requested additional testing in the fire impact zone even after public officials said it was safe. So the city contracted with a company to test indoor dust and outdoor soil at 80 randomly selected homes within the fire's impact area. The tests were conducted months after the fire burned out, and the results were released late Wednesday.
Why it matters: Many Tustin residents continue to worry about the health affects of the fire. Clean-up in neighborhoods is still ongoing, and charred, asbestos-laden debris is still being stored at the site of the hangar fire.
The backstory: Cleanup workers in hazmat suits spent months picking up debris laden with asbestos in nearby neighborhoods. And some residents who had their own testing done — prior to the city's testing — found elevated levels of lead in their homes.
What’s next: The Navy is finalizing a plan to clean up and remove the charred remains of the fire from the old Tustin base. A Navy spokesperson said they hope to begin the work this summer.
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