LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio Community discussions are underway to plan for the undeveloped parts of the former military base that lie within city limits — including what to do with the remaining historic World War II blimp hangar historic blimp hangars were among the largest freestanding wooden structures ever built Their fate had been hotly debated for decades — raze them when a fire broke out in what’s known as the north hangar for how you can get involved in the reuse effort dubbed Tustin Legacy The city of Tustin is asking residents to weigh in on what should happen to the beloved hangar that is the city's most prominent icon Community discussions are underway to plan for the undeveloped parts of the former military base within city limits — including what to do with the historic World War II blimp hangar after its twin burned down in 2023 Marine Corps Air Station Tustin was built in 1942 as a base for blimps charged with patrolling the coastline for enemy craft during World War II military has been slowly turning the land over to be redeveloped as neighborhoods Tustin is now planning what to do with about 500 acres of undeveloped land in the district dubbed Tustin Legacy historic blimp hangars are among the largest freestanding wooden structures ever built when a fire broke out in what’s known as the north hangar and quickly got out of control The city is now asking the public to weigh in on what should happen with the remaining blimp hangar and the surrounding undeveloped land The hangar has been used to film commercials and movies And it has historic and sentimental value for many residents and families of World War II veterans Finding the money to refurbish and maintain it for safe reuse would be a major challenge 2025-05-05T07:41:43-07:00May 5 2025-05-02T09:39:58-07:00May 2 2025-05-02T08:40:53-07:00May 2 2025-05-04T09:32:06-07:00April 30 2025-04-30T17:06:48-07:00April 30 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Get ready to don your bibs and grab your lobster crackers—the Tustin Lobsterfest is back on Saturday Hosted by the Rotary Club of Tustin-Santa Ana this annual celebration combines delicious food and community spirit in the heart of Old Town Tustin Join us at Peppertree Park (230 W. First Street, Tustin) for an unforgettable evening under the trees fresh whole lobster served with pools of warm or soft drinks—and dance the night away to the sounds of our DJ and great company We'll have lobster crackers roaming the park to help you get to the good stuff Stick around for the famous Rotary Ball Drop courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority and their towering hook-and-ladder truck Watch hundreds of numbered ping-pong balls rain down from above 100% of net proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Tustin-Santa Ana Foundation so don't wait—get your tickets now and be part of something deliciously good for the community Erin Kociela, Rotary Club of Tustin-Santa Ana, 1 7146750332, [email protected], https://rotarytustin-santaana.org/ Do not sell or share my personal information: Print North Tustin a hillside community of luxury homes dotted along narrow may soon get its own ZIP code — and a clear exit from one of the highest sales tax rates in Orange County Republican Rep. Young Kim, whose 40th congressional district encompasses the enclave, has cosponsored a bill that would designate single unique ZIP codes for North Tustin and several other communities across the nation within 270 days of its passage The largest unincorporated island in the county is designated by the Census as North Tustin Postal Service assigned it a ZIP code shared with Santa Ana “Its status as an unincorporated area can cause confusion,” Kim said of the community in a press statement “Providing North Tustin with a unique ZIP code will create certainty for residents who have called North Tustin home for decades and clarity for tax purposes a 55-year North Tustin resident and president of the Foothill Communities Assn. noted that he and his neighbors have talked with Rep Kim’s office for a year about the importance of the community having its own ZIP code North Tustin did have its own ZIP code and then the post office needed some more addresses in Santa Ana so they expanded it into the eastern part of Santa Ana,” He said and that has generated a lot of problems for people in North Tustin.” 69% of North Tustin’s roughly 25,000 residents are white and the median household income is $174,000 Its hillside homeowners in neighborhoods like Lemon Heights Cowan Heights and Red Hill include current and former politicians like Curt Pringle current chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors Over the years, residents have been sticklers against any annexation attempts, halted a shopping center development and even a proposed Gelson’s supermarket. They have pushed for their own ZIP code amid protests of being overtaxed, especially in the past five years. In 2018, Santa Ana voters passed Measure X, which raised its sales tax rate to 9.25% for the next decade to shore up budget woes and fund key civic services like public safety for its largely Latino, immigrant residents. The city shares the highest sales tax rate in the county alongside cash-strapped Los Alamitos and Westminster. “The people of North Tustin did not vote for that,” Wagner said. “The tax revenue goes to Santa Ana, not North Tustin.” But sharing a ZIP code with the city can mean that North Tustin residents who use their home addresses while buying a car or shopping online for big ticket purchases like furniture or appliances are sometimes assessed Santa Ana’s higher sales tax rate. “If you’re buying something for $10 on Amazon, that’s not a problem,” Nelson said. “But if you’re buying a $50,000 automobile, it can get to be a big deal.” Nelson has had to negotiate refunds on a company by company basis. Wagner called the ZIP code issue “taxation without representation” in supporting Rep. Kim’s legislative efforts. On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee passed the bill out of markup. If it becomes law, North Tustin residents would fall under the jurisdiction of the county with the board of supervisors overseeing its tax rates. Currently, the county’s sales tax rate is 7.75%. “People just want to get back to where we were, and it can be done,” Nelson said. “The post office just has to do it.” Gabriel San Román is a feature writer for TimesOC. He previously worked at OC Weekly – as a reporter, podcast producer and columnist – until the newspaper’s closing in late 2019. In 2023, San Román was part of the breaking news reporting team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of the Lunar New Year mass shooting in Monterey Park. He may or may not be the tallest Mexican in O.C. TimesOC Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map An investigation into the fire that torched a World War II blimp hangar in Tustin in 2023 found there was a break-in the day before the fire started according to new documents obtained by LAist But fire officials were ultimately unable to pin down the cause of the blaze torching one of the largest wooden structures ever built and raining asbestos-laden debris over neighborhoods for miles around The fire and subsequent cleanup have cost taxpayers more than $100 million "Through this investigation we were unable to exclude an intentional act by one or more persons the use of a warming or cooking fire by an unknown person or persons or the use of an open flame by one or more persons for various activities including but not limited to smoking lighting or the known practice of stealing and stripping of copper wire from vacant or unoccupied buildings," investigators wrote The federal government closed down the former Tustin air base in 1999 and has been slowly turning over the property to the city But the fate of the blimp hangars was always in limbo in part because of their state of disrepair LAist filed a public records request last year with the Orange County Fire Authority for all documents related to the fire and the subsequent investigation Officials released the documents to LAist on Monday The remains of the hangar are still being cleaned up by Navy contractors using specialized methods for removing toxic debris Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard said the city thanked the OCFA "for their diligence and professionalism" in investigating the fire "The OCFA has informed the City that it will reopen the investigation should any credible new information become available," Lumbard wrote "We continue to encourage anyone with pertinent information about the Navy North Hangar Fire to contact the Orange County Fire Authority." an historic World War II blimp hangar caught fire in Tustin setting off a public health emergency as toxic debris from the fire fell over surrounding neighborhoods Life has mostly resumed to normal around the former military base where the hangar’s skeleton But cleanup of the toxic remains — which contained asbestos and lead — is ongoing The fire broke out in the early hours of Nov More than 100 firefighters and two water-dropping helicopters initially responded to the blaze They found no working hydrant near the smoking hangar according to documents obtained by LAist earlier this year firefighters decided the risk that the structure would collapse was too great 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 The fire also majorly disrupted life for many nearby residents Some temporarily moved out of the area to avoid exposure to potentially toxic air or while their homes were being cleaned of fire debris Nearby schools were closed for weeks and parents had to shuttle their kids to alternative school sites LAist mapped 1,382 locations were debris from the Tustin hangar fire was reported.  Hazardous waste crews spent months combing neighborhoods some neighbors were still reluctant to take walks outside One neighbor interviewed by LAist moved to Texas because of her concern that asbestos debris is still lingering in the community Tustin residents living near the hangar site may again see cleanup crews in their neighborhood in the coming weeks They'll mostly be checking for remaining debris that might be lodged in rain gutters This final (hopefully) stage of community cleanup is required by environmental officials and will be funded by an additional $15 million from the Navy The cause of the fire that torched the hangar is still under investigation according to a spokesperson for the Orange County Fire Authority They said the length of time to investigate was not unusual for such a complex fire Air monitoring continues around the hangar site and in the surrounding community during the cleanup LAist is covering Southern California like never before But we cannot do this essential work without your help We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you At a time when the need for local journalism has never been greater Member support – your support – is what will sustain a free press in Southern California so please be here for us now with a donation to power our trusted local reporting Step up right now and make the choice to give Because that’s exactly what it is - a choice But it is not a choice without consequences If readers do not choose to step up and donate the future of fact-based news in Southern California will not be as strong LAist will remain a voice you know and trust the city of Tustin will hold a series of community meetings to discuss what to do with the remaining World War II blimp hangar after its twin burned down a year ago The city has been paying for extra security to keep the hangar — one of the largest wooden structures ever built — from suffering the same fate Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard said any potential future use for the hangar — even demolishing it — will require significant funds The structure is so large that routine maintenance costs millions of dollars “There's a lot of value there from a sentimental value from a military history perspective … but I think we need to look at this through clear eyes and also protect the financial health of the city,” he added The city plans to hold a series of community meetings starting next year to discuss what to do with the South Hangar 20 presentation about the South Hangar and what’s happening with the rest of the former military base The Navy has pumped over $123 million into the clean-up of a World War II anti-submarine blimp hangar in Southern California destroyed by fire a year ago Workers for the Navy have hauled away over 395 tons of twisted and charred steel from the wreckage at the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin along with 77 tons of toxic waste and 1,180 tons of other debris according to a tally by the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command said work will “continue through the first quarter of 2025.” at one of two landmark World War II blimp hangars towering historic landmarks in the heart of Orange County Plumes of smoke and air-borne debris settled across a wide swath of suburban housing tracts After initially battling the blaze from the ground and helicopters fire officials removed responders because of concerns they could be killed or injured if the 17-story Built with two-million board feet of Oregon Douglas fir trees then repeatedly flared over the next 24 days before it was declared officially extinguished on Dec a virtual twin just a few hundred feet away the Navy has spent $20 million on direct demolition and clearance of the North Hangar site while it has paid the City of Tustin that sits next to the hangars a total of $103.3 million in six installments Tustin officials said the city’s costs could top $150 million before the recovery was over which was deemed the responsible party for damages from the fire by the U.S The Navy’s webpage for the clean-up gives a 15-month timeline from the beginning of debris removal on July 8 until work is completed Environmental Protection Agency to the Southern California Air Quality Management District “The Navy is continuing to work with the city on bringing the response to the Hangar fire to a close,” the Navy’s webpage says of the project Two hangars were erected in farmland about 35 miles south of Los Angeles following the Dec The project was completed in less than a year The hangars housed Navy anti-submarine blimps that patrolled the Pacific coast for signs of Japanese ships or submarines the hangars became the centerpiece of the 1,600-acre Marine Corps Air Station Tustin home to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing helicopters Fighter jets and transports flew from the nearby Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and most of their land was turned over to local authorities for development The Navy retained 225 acres centered around the blimp hangars The North Hangar had been shut for all uses when its roof was damaged in a 2003 windstorm Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard was outspokenly critical late last year of what he said was a slow response and lack of funds from federal and state officials immediately after the fire was put out “It is time for the Navy to step up,” said Lumbard It is the time for the environmental agencies to do what they are empowered and authorized to do.” But in his end-of-the-year report to the community on the fire’s aftermath “The Navy is continuing to work with the city on bringing the response to the hangar fire to a close,” Lumbard said “I’d also like to express appreciation to our Navy partners who successfully advocated for critical federal funding to provide 100% reimbursement for all the work the city has performed on the Navy’s behalf,” he said but the Navy delivered on its funding commitment.” Updates can be found on the Navy’s Hangar 1 Debris Removal page at https://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/BRAC-Bases/California/FormerMarine-Corps-Air-Station-Tustin/Hangar-1-Debris-Removal/ The new 40-unit housing development is close to being completed with all townhomes already sold out. But with the Jessup almost fully built, Intracorp, its developer, wanted to revisit its contract on Tuesday in seeking a refund of roughly $290,000 affordable housing in-lieu fees already paid to Tustin. According to staff report, Intracorp agreed to build two affordable housing units on-site while paying the Voluntary Workforce Housing Incentive Program in-lieu fees as a public benefit in exchange for the city rezoning the property as residential. “The goal of the City Council and staff is to try to accelerate development,” Councilman Ray Schnell said in support. “By removing impediments, fines and fees, that sends a clear message to builders, general contractors, [and] developers that we’re looking for ways to accelerate the pace of building and not be punitive.” An apartment home project at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in La Habra is the first of several housing developments the Diocese of Orange is planning in the county. Intracorp originally sought the refund in September, but the City Council deadlocked on the move. “What has changed since the council rejected this?” Councilman Lee Fink asked. “I don’t think anything has.” Several units at the Jessup in Tustin are still under construction. (Gabriel San Roman) A year ago, Tustin waived affordable housing in-lieu fees for three years in its Old Town and Red Hill Avenue specific plan areas. The Jessup stands outside of those areas, but after the policy change, Intracorp petitioned for a refund. A city staff report argued that granting the refund met a strategic plan goal of “economic and neighborhood development” by establishing “parity” with the in-lieu fee waivers elsewhere in Tustin. “I feel confident that an approval today of this item demonstrates that the city is fair, that we are equitable, that if there is a policy we’re going to apply it to you,” said Tustin Councilman Ryan Gallagher. “That would also [send] a message to the business community that Tustin is open for business.” Gallagher criticized affordable housing in-lieu fees approved in 2018 as part of the city’s Voluntary Workforce Housing Incentive Program. He claimed the policy hasn’t led to a single unit being permitted and built in Old Town since that time. “This council wants to build market rate and affordable housing, but we need to stop wasting our time and energy on programs that don’t work,” Gallagher said. But Fink sounded the alarm about the Jessup’s refund being a potential gift of public funds. “This isn’t in the downtown core, this isn’t Red Hill,” he said. “This was already baked in when the when that change was made. Housing is built. I would think we need to look long and hard at the liability for that.” Critics argued that Tustin unnecessarily rebated affordable housing opt-out fees for the Jessup. (Gabriel San Roman) Cesar Covarrubias, executive director of the Kennedy Commission, called the refund “concerning” after the council meeting. “It greatly impacts Tustin’s ability to create new affordable housing,” he said. “We don’t know what authority the City Council has to retroactively undo community benefits that are supposed to address affordable housing.” The Jessup, which sold most of its townhomes for more than $1 million, built two townhomes at the very-low income level. At the council meeting, Schnell claimed the move amounted to roughly $2 million in revenue the developer would have made if they had been sold at market rate. Councilman John Nielsen claimed the Jessup suffered what amounted to “double taxation” by building the two affordable townhomes and paying nearly $290,000 in affordable housing opt-out fees. Nielsen dismissed Fink’s concerns about the refund being a gift of public funds and moved to approve it. The City Council voted 4-1 to give Intracorp the money back, with Fink voting against it. “This doesn’t help us build,” Fink said. “This just takes away a pool of money that we can use for affordable projects.” Tustin High School boys basketball coach Ringo Bossenmeyer after a game this season. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone). Long-time highly successful Tustin High School boys basketball coach Ringo Bossenmeyer has resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at Chapman University, he said Friday. “After 25 seasons as head coach, and four years as boys athletic director at Tustin High School, I have made the difficult decision to resign both positions effective at the end of the school year in order to join Coach Dan Krikorian’s basketball staff at Chapman University,” Bossenmeyer said. “The opportunity to work with a bright and innovative coach like Coach Krikorian and his assistant coaches will allow me to continue growing as a coach, and it is an opportunity I simply could not pass up. I look forward to contributing in any way I can to an obviously already highly successful basketball program and prestigious university. “My lifelong coach is to be the best coach I can be, even at my age. I’m going to be 59 and I’m still passionate about the game and growing as a coach, I really feel I can gain a great deal of knowledge and experience working under Coach Krikorian and his staff.” Bossenmeyer said he also wants to spend more time with his parents. Bossenmeyer, who was named Orange County coach of the year three times, has coached high school basketball for 31 years. He coached at Orange High from 1991 to 1997. He led Tustin the CIF 3AAA championship in 2013 when the Tillers had a school record 31-3. He led Tustin to 23 CIF playoff appearances and two appearances in the semifinal round of the CIF playoffs. The Tillers won league titles in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and this past year when the team went 24-7 and captured two playoff victories. Bossenmeyer also celebrated his 500th career victory last December when the Tillers defeated Northwood in the Rancho Alamitos Tournament. “Looking back on 25 years at Tustin High, what I am most proud of is the fact that, as a coaching staff, we always prioritized the development of young men as individuals over team development,” he said. “Being the head basketball coach at Tustin High for the last 25 years has truly been the honor of a lifetime.” Bossenmeyer said he expects officials will start to advertise the head coaching position by Monday. He will continue to teach a couple classes at Tustin. Bossenmeyer informed his players of his decision this week. —Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Why it matters: The Tustin hangar fire lasted 24 days, torching one of the largest wooden structures ever built and raining asbestos-laden debris over neighborhoods for miles around. The fire and subsequent cleanup have cost taxpayers more than $100 million. An investigation into the fire that torched a World War II blimp hangar in Tustin in 2023 found there was a break-in the day before the fire started, potentially to steal copper wiring, according to new documents obtained by LAist. But fire officials were ultimately unable to pin down the cause of the blaze. The Tustin hangar fire lasted for 24 days, torching one of the largest wooden structures ever built and raining asbestos-laden debris over neighborhoods for miles around. The fire and subsequent cleanup have cost taxpayers more than $100 million. "Through this investigation we were unable to exclude an intentional act by one or more persons, the use of a warming or cooking fire by an unknown person or persons, or the use of an open flame by one or more persons for various activities including but not limited to smoking, drug use, lighting or the known practice of stealing and stripping of copper wire from vacant or unoccupied buildings," investigators wrote. The federal government closed down the former Tustin air base in 1999 and has been slowly turning over the property to the city. But the fate of the blimp hangars was always in limbo, in part because of their state of disrepair. Break-ins were not uncommon. LAist filed a public records request last year with the Orange County Fire Authority for all documents related to the fire and the subsequent investigation. Officials released the documents to LAist on Monday. The remains of the hangar are still being cleaned up by Navy contractors, using specialized methods for removing toxic debris. In a text to LAist, Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard said the city thanked the OCFA "for their diligence and professionalism" in investigating the fire. "The OCFA has informed the City that it will reopen the investigation should any credible new information become available," Lumbard wrote. "We continue to encourage anyone with pertinent information about the Navy North Hangar Fire to contact the Orange County Fire Authority." The Tustin Unified School District is asking voters to approve a property tax increase to fund $261 million in renovation and repair projects. At least 55% of voters need to approve Measure J for it to pass. Official title on the ballot: Tustin Unified School District, Classroom Repair/Safety/Quality Education Measure A "yes" vote means: The district can borrow $261 million to construct new buildings, repair and renovate existing public schools. A "no" vote means: The district cannot borrow $261 million to construct new buildings, repair and renovate existing public schools. The Tustin Unified School District serves about 21,000 students across 29 schools. The district wants money to repair and upgrade multipurpose rooms and science labs; fix roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems; improve school safety and security; and remove asbestos and lead, among other things. A bond is basically a loan that a school district takes out, and which property owners in that school district pay back through property taxes. If at least 55% of voters approve Measure J, the Tustin Unified School District can issue up to $261 million in bonds to finance specific school facilities projects. LAist asked the district to name its top priorities for bond funding, but representatives have yet to respond. The district estimates the bond would cost property owners that live within the school district's boundaries an average of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value each year. There’s also a possibility that Tustin Unified School District could get additional state funding if Prop. 2 passes. Districts cannot spend bond money on employee salaries and are required to commission independent audits of bond spending. If the state and local measures fail, the need for funding will remain. When California voters approved the creation of the lottery, the law required 34 cents of every dollar to fund education. In 2010 lawmakers changed the rules giving the lottery the mandate to “maximize” funding for education. Critics of bonds often say the cost to property owners is too high and question why school districts with declining enrollment need money for construction when they’re serving fewer students. “We think bond financing has its place, but it should be judicious because it raises property taxes at the local level,” said Susan Shelley, HJTA’s vice president of communications. The Association has not taken a position on specific local bonds other than LAUSD’s $9 billion Measure US (no) and on Prop. 2 (also no). Shelley said voters weighing school bonds should carefully consider how the school spent previous bond funding and the plans for future projects. “You should have confidence that the priorities are right,” Shelley said. “And if they're not, say no and make [the district] come back to you with a better plan.” No individual or group submitted an argument in opposition to the bond to the O.C. Registrar. State law lays out several accountability measures for local school district bonds, including: While districts identify projects that could benefit from improvements, that list is not a guarantee of which projects will be funded. There are often years of community meetings, design, and permitting between the passage of a bond and the start of construction, though minor renovation projects could be completed sooner. A bond is basically a loan. The bond authorized by Measure J would be paid back — with interest — through local property taxes. Did LAist help you vote? Member support made these voter guides possible. Our election coverage is focused on you: helping you understand the results of these races and their impact on our everyday lives. And we don’t stop there, even after results are in, you need a source of trusted reporting that will hold those in power to account and shine a light on issues important to our communities. Even after the last ballot is cast, LAist reporting and voting guides are here for you. But we need to hear from you now with your support to know that this work we’re doing is important. We cannot do this essential work without your help. We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you. At a time when the need for local journalism has never been greater, many newsrooms are facing cutbacks, including LAist. Member support — your support — is what will sustain a free press in Southern California. LAist’s mission is to be here for you, so please be here for us now with a donation to power our trusted local reporting. Step up right now and make the choice to give. Because that’s exactly what it is — a choice. It's a choice with consequences. If readers do not choose to step up and donate, the future of fact-based news in Southern California will not be as strong. No matter what happens in the world, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Print A 40-year-old man suspected of stealing a cache of military equipment — including three Humvees — in a late-night break-in at the Army Reserve Center in Tustin has been arrested On Jan. 8, sometime between 8 and 11:30 p.m., at least one individual entered a storage warehouse at the reserve center on Red Hill Avenue, ransacked storage lockers and cut a fence to access a military vehicle parking lot, according to the Tustin Police Department. California The Santa Rosa-area CHP is looking for a Humvee stolen from a National Guard facility over the Fourth of July weekend. Three Humvees, a type of all-terrain vehicle used in military activities to transport passengers and cargo, were taken. Eight machine gun vehicle mounts, seven freestanding machine gun tripods, medical equipment, 40 pairs of binoculars and 18 bayonets also went missing from the facility, police said. Three days after the theft, police said they recovered two of the Humvees — one in Santa Ana and the other in Orange. But the third vehicle and the rest of the gear remained unaccounted for until Jan. 16, when authorities said they recovered the third Humvee and other missing equipment while serving search warrants in Orange. Authorities at that time also arrested a suspect, identified as Alfredo Reyes Jr. It is not clear what prompted police to suspect Reyes. Authorities declined to provide additional details about the case Thursday. Several Humvees have been taken from military sites across the country, including in California, in recent years. Authorities are trying to find two men who were spotted on security footage stealing fire equipment from a U.S Forest Service vehicle in San Bernardino County a Pomona man allegedly went to an Army Reserve Center in Upland drove off with a Humvee worth more than $200,000 and briefly led police on a chase A Humvee stolen in January 2021 from a National Guard Armory in Bell was recovered five days later. Another of the vehicles was taken from Naval Base Coronado in San Diego County in 2022 and later found behind a Home Depot in Imperial Beach. World & Nation 2024Several northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway were shut down in the Tustin area after a deadly crash Monday morning.TUSTIN (KABC) -- Several northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway were shut down for hours in the Tustin area after a deadly crash involving multiple vehicles Monday morning The crash was reported shortly after 3 a.m according to the California Highway Patrol Only the far right lane appeared to be open Authorities said an SUV crashed into the concrete center divider including on the southbound side of the freeway Additional details about the crash were not available DEVELOPING: We will add more details to this report as they become available Eight months after a World War II-era blimp hangar spewed toxic smoke and rained asbestos-laden debris over the community as it burned to the ground in Tustin some nearby residents are still living with deep concerns about their long-term health and safety unsure just how concerned they should be about the health consequences of the fire residents near the former Tustin military base where the fire broke out on Nov 7 have had to wade through a mess of seemingly conflicting information about the toxicity of the fire fallout and the potential consequences to their health They watched for weeks as crews of hazmat workers combed their neighborhoods picking up fire debris city contractors applied a chemical compound called a tackifier around the footprint of the destroyed hangar to keep dust and ash in place and wrapped what remains of the structure in reinforced plastic nylon sheeting The county removed all the wood chips in several nearby parks after the fire Mayor Austin Lumbard called the results "reassuring" during the city council meeting where they were presented They're "talking out of both sides," Tustin resident Lana Clay-Monaghan said of city leaders "They're going to fall on their knees to ask the [government] for money and they're trying to say that there's nothing wrong Do you go in and out of your garage?'" she said and two toddlers temporarily moved out in November after private testing found elevated levels of lead inside their home The condo association where she and Storm both live had the outside of their buildings tested in December The testing found lead and asbestos fibers in fire soot on light fixtures "There's a lot of lessons we could learn from how to not communicate well," he said.  "The city did not say that contamination of homes did not happen," Ogunseitan said there's no new contamination found in households that volunteered to participate in the sampling But that's a fine detail that may not appeal to somebody who still feels vulnerable." city leaders and local public health officials announced that physical debris from the fire contained asbestos and could be dangerous to public health Indoor air and dust samples were ordered by public health officials at the two schools closest to the fire Heritage Elementary and Legacy Magnet Academy Asbestos was not detected in any of the samples — eight interior air samples and nine dust samples at each school Test results from the city's contractor Envirocheck showed that asbestos fibers were found on Nov inside the city-run Tustin Family and Youth Center — in dust on classroom floors and on the kitchen countertop according to documents from the Orange County Fire Authority An email from an Envirocheck employee to city officials said the levels were high enough to require cleanup Orange County Fire battalion chief Mike Summers noted the need to clean up the youth center "ASAP" in a Nov the day before Thanksgiving: "Per TUSD [Tustin Unified School District] they are passing out turkeys out [sic] tomorrow." Health Care Agency wrote that the environmental team guiding the hangar fire response had reviewed these and other results and determined that indoor testing was "not necessary," as stated in Chinsio-Kwong's letter to Tustin officials The environmental team included representatives from the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the emergency response contractors hired by the city to oversee the hangar Incident "Some people think you can sprinkle asbestos on your breakfast others think we don't regulate enough," Ehrenfeld said It's difficult to pin down the risk associated with the kind of asbestos exposure likely experienced by residents living near the Tustin hangar fire But there are no official hazard thresholds for asbestos in dust or ash a fact that has made it difficult for the public to assess the public health risks from the hangar fire fallout The condo association where Storm and Clay-Monaghan live paid for an extensive cleaning operation of the exterior of their buildings But that doesn't necessarily mean the condo residents' health was at risk "There are actuaries at insurance companies who might say it's better to clean than be sued,'" he said "You have everybody sort of saying different things and measuring different stuff," Alvarez said "It adds to the confusion and it makes it hard to act … because there isn't a dominant narrative." Even public officials have seemed to waver about the consequences of the fire told LAist that residents' concerns about the toxicity of the fallout are "real and warranted." But "based on the feedback that we got from the environmental agencies I don't think that risk was as high as some thought." the pickleball courts were packed at Veterans Sports Park which sits directly across a barren dirt field from the torched hangar normal routines have been paralyzed since the fire started Elizabeth Sigel was living in a cluster of senior apartments known as Coventry Court She found out from news reports in subsequent days that the small pieces of fire debris littered across her balcony could contain asbestos She told LAist she hadn't opened her windows or stepped out on her balcony since the fire she wore an N-95 mask and covered her hair anytime she stepped out of her apartment And rather than going for daily walks in the neighborhood "I'm not going to spend the next five years of my life wearing a hood and a mask," she said wondering if it's safe — has been "overwhelming and exhausting." He said the total cost to clean and remediate his home of toxins including throwing away porous items like drapes Other residents told LAist they've had to foot the bill themselves The plan also includes sampling of remaining hangar materials to identify contaminants according to the Navy's website for the former military base Dust suppression and air quality monitoring will take place throughout the cleanup Legal action over the fire and the toxic fallout are likely said his firm had filed two class action claims and individual damages claims on behalf of clients whose health and home values were allegedly affected by the fire The fire has also sparked efforts to oust local leadership: In March Clay-Monaghan officially declared her intention to run for city council She told LAist the way the city has handled the cleanup pushed her to run said it's become "increasingly clear" that many places aren't prepared for potential disasters He said given the known vulnerability of the massive planning for a potential fire would've made sense including how and where to sample for toxic fallout He hopes the authorities involved in the Tustin fire response and other communities will learn from the mistakes By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The concept of a “third place”—a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book The Great Good Place—suggests that individuals need more than just a home and a work environment They also require a social space where they can connect with like-minded people and foster a sense of community For many, the golf course could serve as this third place. However, public golf courses don’t encourage socializing beyond the hours spent on the course, and country clubs don’t typically prioritize accessibility. Even House—a new membership club offering everything from working space to simulators and coffee—aims to marry the best of both worlds a fire broke out at a massive World War II-era hangar in Tustin spewing toxic smoke into the air and sending asbestos-laden debris raining over the surrounding communities LAist has now mapped just how far and wide that debris fell and which neighborhoods bore the brunt of the fallout based on data obtained by LAist from the city of Tustin The data illustrate the chaotic nature of the cleanup and the panic and frustration felt by many residents as they sought help and guidance in navigating a major disaster It affected an estimated 14,000 people and had potentially serious health consequences the records show people reported ash and debris from the fire as far as 10 miles from the hangar although the vast majority of reports were within three miles This is the first publicly available map showing the spread of where fire debris was reported across the county torched one of the largest wooden structures ever built — 17 stories high and covering an area larger than five football fields To help understand and visualize the impact of the Nov 2023 blimp hangar fire on Tustin and surrounding communities LAist submitted a California Public Records Act request for all reports of debris received by the city through its online portal or hotline the city provided us with three spreadsheets of information that included more than 3,700 rows of data covering the period from Nov The original files included hundreds of duplicate records in part because many people had multiple interactions with the city's fire debris cleanup program addresses were incomplete or missing altogether from records The city explained that the online reporting form did not initially require people to fill out the address field in order to submit a report We discarded 237 reports without an address and cleaned up any duplicates to create a list of unique addresses omitting 8 that could not be accurately mapped to create a heat map highlighting areas with the most addresses linked to reports.  The cleanup — which is still underway more than eight months after the fire broke out — has so far cost taxpayers around $90 million The bulk of that sum has been spent to remove debris presumed to contain asbestos once considered a "wonder material" and used widely It's now known to cause lung disease and cancer Hundreds of workers have spent months combing the surrounding neighborhoods in hazmat suits searching through bushes for chunks of charred fibrous debris (a sign that it may contain asbestos) hauling away soot-covered lawn furniture and cushions "It was a tremendous undertaking," said Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard "We've made so much progress over these last months Multiple state and federal agencies were involved in developing and implementing the cleanup protocols which officials say sought to balance safety with speed as they dealt with hundreds of cleanup requests daily in the first few weeks of the fire The cause of the fire remains under investigation LAist identified 1,382 addresses where either a resident reported debris from the hangar fire or a city contractor inspected a property for fire debris The vast majority of the addresses correspond to private homes The largest concentration of reports was from Columbus Square the neighborhood directly north of the hangar site People reported debris as far north as the Anaheim Hills and as far west as Foothill Ranch — both about 10 miles away from the burn site It’s important to note that the city's records for these and hundreds of other addresses where debris was reported are incomplete: Often the records were not updated following inspection making it hard to determine whether debris was found and whether that debris likely contained asbestos according to the records given to LAist by the city they could find no working hydrant near the smoking hangar according to fire authority records obtained by LAist The hangar was equipped with a sprinkler system but it was "non-operational," according to Navy spokesperson Christopher Dunne Dunne told LAist that utilities on the former military base were transferred to the city of Tustin in May 2002 The test results kicked the fire response into high gear The cleanup has faced challenges from the beginning in part because of the web of agencies and jurisdictions involved and the sheer spread of the debris as documented in the map much of the land has been sold off and turned into shopping centers apartments and neighborhoods — including many of those heavily affected by toxic fire debris so the county and city of Tustin were forced to take charge of the fire and the subsequent cleanup residents were desperate to know whether they had asbestos debris in their yards and inside their homes Contractors wouldn't start picking up debris on private property until two weeks after the fire broke out An LAist review of reports that came through the city's call center and debris reporting portal from Nov 9 highlights residents' distress over the toxicity of fallout that covered roofs residents reported that ash and debris got inside their homes windows (inside and out) our air and HVAC ducts garage floor and exterior doors," one resident reported to the city on Nov documenting where they had found fire remnants 7 that they were having severe "upper respiratory symptoms and would really appreciate you coming as soon as possible." Some residents became frustrated after making multiple requests for cleanup I need someone to inspect the ash on our patio and deck and roof and clean I am a high-risk individual and have been displaced (staying elsewhere) because of this." Reports also came in from neighboring Irvine including from one woman who said she and her kids went to the hospital because of respiratory problems during the fire She said it had been "impossible" to breathe at home "We have very old windows and all ashes and small pieces of debris entered in my home," she wrote There was "no real definitive date or time from like a scheduling or RSVP perspective," Jeff Lawrence The city's asbestos contractors did not clean rooftops or second story balconies Najera wrote in an email to LAist that the cleanup "prioritized prompt and safe removal of debris from accessible ground-level areas where the greatest potential existed for contact with the material." But interviews with residents and records show that debris often didn't stay put in inaccessible places Some residents filed follow-up requests after rain or wind brought debris into areas that had already been cleaned Rooftops were a major source of this recontamination In one cleanup request filed with the city on Nov the resident wrote: "Cleaning crew came today but did not remove from my front patio my rain gutters are full and clogged with debris that was on the roof causing the debris to overflow and cover the ground again." wrote of the repeat cleanups: "It’s literally a joke Instead of doing it right the first time they properly wasted millions of dollars doing it the wrong way." Documentation of the work done at individual homes was often sparse according to interviews with residents and the city records reviewed by LAist When clean-up crews arrived at Lawrence's home in late November workers advised him that the outdoor couches and other patio furniture in his backyard were contaminated and should be thrown away But Lawrence said the workers provided no documentation of what they took or of the other remediation work they did on his property which could be important for things like insurance claims and future liability we have nothing that shows that they took anything or did anything or what they cleaned The city's asbestos contractors also generally did not test fire debris on private property for asbestos despite residents' expectations that they would the city's asbestos contractors primarily relied on visual inspections to assess whether debris was likely to contain asbestos That left some residents anxious and uncertain about their safety "HELP US!!!!!" one resident wrote to the city on Nov "WE HAVE NOW CONTACTED THIS ‘PORTAL’ THREE TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE WE HAVE ASBESTOS IN OUR BACKYARD AND NO ONE HAS COME TO TEST IT OR CLEAN IT UP DESPITE OUR NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AND SUBMISSIONS FOR HELP!!!!!!" ended up paying private companies to test his home for asbestos in mid-November and mid-December They documented asbestos-laden fire debris on the roof They did not find asbestos in dust samples taken inside his home He told LAist in an email that his family still has "thousands of dollars" in claims stemming from the tossed patio furniture and other losses from the fire Najera told LAist in an email that the city's contracted asbestos specialists and remediation teams responded to all reports of debris She said "the cleanup methodology and documentation protocols were approved by the federal EPA state Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Orange County Health Care Agency." repeatedly asked for help from the state and the Navy to deal with what he called an unprecedented disaster for the small city with a population of 78,000 The state declined to issue a disaster declaration related to the hangar fire which could have opened up federal funding and other assistance for the city and its affected residents and businesses crafting a resolution urging President Joe Biden to declare the hangar fire a national emergency "to address the ongoing impacts on public health which passed through the state legislature on July 1 also asks the president and Congress to dedicate $100 million in supplemental funding for the cleanup effort said the city was forced to handle an emergency not of its making "This is ultimately the Navy's responsibility," Lumbard said of the fire and the cleanup "I'm just proud of the way the city was able to step up in a void of leadership and take action because our community needed help." Earlier this year — several months after the hangar fire finally burnt out — Tustin hired experts to test outdoor soil and indoor dust and air samples at 50 homes near the hangar site saying that "no asbestos fibers were identified in soil or indoor dust above health screening criteria in any of the 80 homes." the debate over the fire's impact on residents' health and finances is far from over — at least two class action lawsuits and an unknown number of individual claims are in the works The Navy plans to finish dismantling the torched hangar and begin removing toxic debris from the former military base on Monday Maloy Moore and Brian Frank also contributed to this report Photo: Courtesy of Santa Ana Police Department CA – A custody dispute between an Orange County father and his ex-wife took a tragic turn when their 11-year-old son was killed during a visit with his mother at a Santa Ana hotel was arrested on March 20 on suspicion of murder and aggravated mayhem after being released from a hospital Police say she confessed to killing her son Yatin had most recently attended school in the Tustin Unified School District and had previously been a student in the Irvine Unified School District Officers arrived at the La Quinta Inn in Santa Ana on March 19 to find Yatin on a bed with multiple stab wounds KCAL-TV reported that a large kitchen knife was found in the room and that Saritha appeared unemotional when she emerged had full custody of the boy but had allowed him to visit his mother during spring break The child was scheduled to be returned to his father by 6 p.m Saritha told authorities she had ingested an unknown substance She was found in the hotel hallway and hospitalized later determined to have taken approximately 20 pills of Advil or Tylenol Saritha had been staying at the hotel for several weeks Court records show Saritha had been in a custody battle with Prakash since 2023 She alleged that he had substance abuse issues Prakash had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges in June 2023 and is on three years of informal probation His blood-alcohol level at the time of his 2022 arrest was .25 citing his efforts to maintain sobriety and the impact of his criminal record on his career at Irvine-based Panasonic Avionics Corp where he works Saritha had recently filed court papers in November 2024 seeking custody of Yatin and hoping to have him live with her in Virginia Also Read:- Usha Vance’s Planned Greenland Visit Meets Fierce Criticism He always had alcohol issues which is my they divorced The courts are corrupt and gave custody to him and website in this browser for the next time I comment Copyright © 2022 India West | Developed By Codeblend Labs store now openThe new location is at 1091 Irvine Blvd. bringing Aldi to almost 100 stores operating in the state of California bringing Aldi to almost 100 stores operating in the state of California Aldi on Thursday opened its first Tustin, California, location, transforming the site of a former bowling alley into a supermarket. The new store, located at 1091 Irvine Blvd. is part of the company’s nationwide growth plan, and edges the discount grocer to almost 100 stores in California “Our stores are designed to make grocery shopping smarter and we’ve been voted the price leader for five years running,” said Tom Cindel Moreno Valley Group director of operations and logistics for Aldi “We’re excited to open our first Aldi store in Tustin and introduce local customers to a new As more shoppers are trading down due to high food prices, the no-frills German discount chain is cutting prices on its top items ahead of the holiday season “We know saving money has never been more important and it’s especially important for our shoppers as they head into the busy holiday season That’s why we are dropping prices on some of our most popular items in order to make the biggest impact on our customers’ grocery bills,” said Scott Patton “As we kick off the busiest time of year for buying groceries we want our shoppers to know we are focused on giving them the best possible prices so they can focus on celebrating the holidays with their friends and families.” lower prices will be in categories such as fresh and frozen vegetables and select cheeses through the end of the year The Tustin store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aldi is on track to become the third-largest grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022 Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199 Why it matters: The city has been paying for extra security to keep the hangar — one of the largest wooden structures ever built — from suffering the same fate as the first Any potential future use for the aging hangar — even demolishing it — will require significant funds Residents of North Tustin say sharing a zip code with Santa Ana raises their taxes so your donation is critical to KCRW's music programming FLASH SALE: Snag The OG Black Zip-Up designed by LA artist Chuy Hartman— inspired by the 24/7 service we provide to the LA community ends tonight Get the latest from KCRW in your inbox 3x a week Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 2025Steven HardestyAssistant Scouting Director The 2025 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and there are some very talented players and teams across California Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview these individual programs across California We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California Each week we will be releasing our Power 25 Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today with a preview of the Tustin Tillers. High School: Tustin TillerHead Coach: Wes ShawCIF Section: Southern SectionDivision: Division 4 (2024)2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 15-13 (Lost in second round.)Key Players Lost:  15 seniors Returning Pitchers: 3+ Team Strengths: Our pitching staff is filled with strike throwers who attack the zone and will put the pressure on opposing offenses + '25 1B Daniel Benally + '26 C/RHP Nyte Teeter + '26 LHP/1B/OF Adam Whyte + Projected Starters: Jeff Nesmith & Adam Whyte + Projected Relievers: Nyte Teeter & Nate Saltzer Losing 15 SRs off the 2024 squad including 4 impact pieces off a CIF-SS D4 playoff team the Tillers are going to have quite a few new faces looking to make impacts in 2025 The pitching staff will be fronted by high pitchability arms who attack the zone with feel for their stuff and will force opposing teams to be ready to hit because they likely will not pitch themselves into trouble How the offense can hit and produce runs will be vital to the success the team has in 2025 + Follow Tustin on X: @tustinbaseball+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Season Previews homepage + Prep Baseball California on X+ Prep Baseball California on Instagram+ Prep Baseball California on Facebook+ Prep Baseball California on YouTube           The Navy has received approval to remove the remnants of a massive World War II blimp hangar destroyed in a fire in November at the shuttered Marine Corps Air Station in California. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command announced Monday that 10 military, federal, state, regional and local agencies had signed off on the cleanup plan that could reach $150 million. “July 8 kicked off the start of fieldwork,” said David Bennett, a Navy spokesman for the Base Closure and Realignment office in San Diego handling the planning. Scraping the “footprint” of the 17-story, 1,000-foot-long and 300-foot-wide hangar is the last major part of a recovery and remediation process from the fire that started Nov. 7 and smoldered for 24 days. According to the Orange County Fire Authority, no cause has been established for the blaze. The Navy has allocated $88 million to reimburse the city of Tustin for the cleanup and toxic-materials testing in the suburban community adjacent to the former military base. In May, Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard estimated the final cost to his city could be as high as $137 million. Under an agreement signed soon after the fire, the Navy reimbursed Tustin for its costs through a series of five amendments. A sixth amendment is under negotiation. When the work contracted directly by the Navy on the hangar is added, the price tag for the fire could top $150 million. In December, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the Navy was responsible for emissions from the fire that destroyed one of two hangars built in 1942 amid farmland south of Los Angeles. Made primarily with 2 million board feet of Douglas fir, the hangars housed Navy blimps that patrolled the California coast looking for Japanese submarines and ships. The site eventually grew to become the 1,600-acre Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. It closed in 1999 as part of a post-Cold War shutdown of what was deemed excess military property. The Navy ceded the land to local authorities, except 225 acres that included the blimp hangars, which are listed as national historic sites. Many residents and local officials have been critical of what they saw as delays in the Navy’s action to clear the site. Early fears that the fire had exposed residents to asbestos, lead and other toxic chemicals have been largely abated by state, county and private testing of air, ground and water samples showing no danger of exposure. Lumbard called the burnt hangar an “eyesore” that millions of people driving on nearby Interstate 5 or passengers looking out their windows as their planes landed at nearby John Wayne Airport could see. The demolition and debris removal from the hangar site are on Navy property. The service signed a $6 million contract with ECC Environmental for the project. Work in the area of the hangar will occur within sealed tent structures, which will create a pressure vacuum to ensure any dust emissions remain within the enclosure. Charles Perry, the Navy’s closure manager for the former base, called the cooperation between the agencies “tremendous” in developing a final plan to clear the site. Lumbard also expressed a conciliatory tone. “We appreciate our continuing partnership with the Navy, and the effort by all stakeholders to reach this milestone to advance the Navy’s onsite cleanup,” he said. Daniel Stephen March did not dispute 27 ethics charges of moral turpitude, misappropriation, failure to maintain client funds in a trust account and others filed against him in May in State Bar Court, which independently handles attorney discipline cases. “The level of March’s misconduct and misappropriation of client funds is stunning,” Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said in a State Bar release Tuesday. “March completely betrayed his responsibilities as a lawyer and his sworn oath of service to his clients and to the profession. Given the scope of his offenses, the just outcome in this case is disbarment.” March operated a Tustin business called Litigation Practice Group that offered debt relief services to customers for a flat fee, paid in monthly installments, and offered a refund if they could not deliver. It filed for bankruptcy in March 2023. But according to bankruptcy filings, up to $282 million in advanced fee revenue collected by March from as many as 60,000 clients between November 2019 and March 2023 were missing, leaving only $1,500 in a JPMorgan Chase trust account and approximately negative $1,000 in a Union Bank trust account. Lawyers are required to hold client fees in trusts until the lawyer completes the work promised, at risk of discipline or disbarment. Bankruptcy filings for Litigation Practice Group showed that March made 20 separate deposits of clients’ monthly installment fees into a trust account from March 2020 to September 2021 but then withdrew $78 million in client fees during that period, the State Bar said in the release. The fees, part of the $282 million total, were either never deposited into a trust account or remained for only a day and were wired into a personal account, the complaint alleges. Richard Louis Crosby III admitted that he used false identities to obtain employment with at least seven law firms, including three in California. During bankruptcy proceedings, March seemed to admit that his client’s money had been mishandled, saying, “no money, nothing was held on behalf of the client,” according to the State Bar Court complaint. “You are in the right hands in your journey to resolve your debt,” the Litigation Practice Group website still reads. Google marked the business as permanently closed. A federal case filed by an investor in Litigation Practice Group alleged that the business abruptly stopped paying the investor in June 2022 and that Diab used March as a figurehead to practice law after losing his own license. March did not respond to phone calls and voicemails Wednesday to his personal or office number. Sandra McDonald is a reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. She grew up in north central Florida, just an hour south of the University of Florida where she studied journalism and worked with the local NPR station, WUFT, and Fresh Take Florida, a news service focused on statewide and political coverage. She previously was an intern with The Times’ breaking news team.