Tustin Hangar Fire Update: City Declares Local State of Emergency
Effective November 9, 4:00 pm, the City of Tustin has issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency.
Safety of Tustin Community
The safety of the Tustin community remains our top priority. The City has contracted with Certified Asbestos Contractors to further assess and remediate hazards to the public. The contractor will provide a report to the City and more information will be shared with the community, once complete.
Collaboration and Partnership
The City team continues to partner and collaborate with multiple agencies at the local, state and federal level to provide clear direction and information to the Tustin community. The response has shifted from firefighting activities to the City leaning on the expertise of regional subject matter experts in air quality monitoring and testing (South Coast AQMD) and public health information (Orange County Health Care Agency).
A Joint Information Center (JIC) has been established through the County of Orange, which will facilitate more timely updates to the community. Please visit www.ocgov.com/tustin for the most up to date information. The Tustin EOC remains activated with a unified command response team working around the clock.
Coordination with the Navy
The Navy owns the Tustin North Hangar property. Navy representatives are actively participating in the City and County EOC discussions and are prepared to further assist with the investigation and cleanup activities. The City will continue to impress upon the Navy the urgency of addressing this situation for the health and safety of the Tustin community.
On November 9, 2023, Congress Members of the Orange County Delegation, and other Members from Southern California sent correspondence to the Navy BRAC Environmental Coordinator requesting an update regarding plans to mitigate impacts from the hangar fire as the property is currently owned by the Navy.
Debris Testing
The City shared information yesterday (Wednesday, Nov. 8) about preliminary results of samples of debris and ash collected by the South Coast AQMD in public areas near the hangar. According to the AQMD information, preliminary testing indicates the presence of asbestos. At the time of this communication, the City is awaiting final reports from AQMD. The final report will be published at www.ocgov.com/tustin
Air Quality Testing
South Coast AQMD also collected air samples in a variety of locations around the hangar, which are being analyzed further for toxic gases and metals. The City is awaiting final test results from South Coast AQMD and updated information from the County Health Care Agency. We will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.
Recommendations for Tustin’s Community Members
The public is urged to follow the precautions outlined by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) when coming in contact with any debris or ash.
- Try to limit your exposure by remaining indoors, with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter to reduce exposure to smoke and ash.
- Avoid touching ash and debris
- Limit or avoid activities that will displace ash into the air.
- Avoid direct contact with ash. If you get ash on your skin, in your eyes, or in your mouth, wash it off as soon as you can.
- People with heart or lung disease, including asthma, older adults, children, and pregnant women should use special caution around ash.
- Children and pets: Children should not be nearby while you clean up ash. Do not allow children to play in ash. Clean ash off all children’s toys before use. Clean ash off pets and other animals.
- Avoid vigorous activity.
- Run your air conditioner or air purifier. If possible do NOT use swamp coolers or whole house fans that bring in outside air.
- If you are going to be outside, a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator may provide some protection.
- Keep your airways (nose and mouth) moist by drinking extra amounts of water.
- People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors.
- Seek medical attention if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue.
- Minimize exposure to other sources of indoor air pollution- avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves – including candles or incense.
For more information on reducing health risks from wildfire smoke and ash, visit the AQMD Wildfire Smoke and Ash Safety Tips webpage and follow updated Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in your area.
Temporary Tustin Park Closures / Event Cancellations / Tustin Schools Closures
At the recommendation of the Orange County Health Care Agency and out of an abundance of caution, the City is closing certain parks (effective immediately) and recommending that community members limit outdoor activities unless alerted otherwise. Link to City’s last update (Nov. 8, 2023).
Questions
- For more information regarding air quality or health effects of smoke/ash, Tustin community members are encouraged to contact the OCHCA directly at 714-628-7085. This hotline is available throughout the weekend from 8am – 8pm daily.
- For more information on reducing health risks from wildfire smoke and ash, visit the AQMD Wildfire Smoke and Ash Safety Tips webpage and follow updated Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in your area.
- Visit our website at www.tustinca.org for more information.
