Air Quality Updates - Tustin Hangar Fire

Annie Brown

November 17, 2023

Since the onset of this incident, IUSD has remained in close contact and met with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Department of Education, the City of Tustin and the City of Irvine daily regarding the latest coordination and clean-up efforts, safety concerns and priorities regarding the hangar fire at the decommissioned Tustin Marine Air Station that occurred during the week of November 6.

Update #11 on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 7 a.m.

There are no air quality or health alerts for Irvine from the AQMD or Orange County Health Care Agency, at this time.

The City of Tustin’s Incident Management Team, which is responsible for managing this regional incident, released information to the public that the deconstruction of the remaining hangar began on Saturday, November 18. For a full update from the City of Tustin's Incident Management Team, including mitigation measures and air quality monitoring, visit the City of Tustin’s incident website or call their hotline at 714-426-2444, which is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

IUSD continues to closely monitor this situation and is in daily contact with the appropriate expert agencies managing this regional incident. Should there be any further updates impacting IUSD schools, the District will keep our community informed. For ongoing updates, questions about the incident, air quality concerns and testing, debris reporting, hangar site clean-up or other general questions, please visit the City of Tustin's incident website or call the hotline number provided above.

The safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority. For more information about IUSD's mitigation measures that are in place at IUSD schools and facilities, as added layers of safety, please see the following pervious updates (#6 and #7).

Update #10 on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 1:50 p.m.

There are no air quality or health alerts for Irvine from the AQMD or Orange County Health Care Agency.

According to the City of Tustin’s Incident Management Team, which is responsible for managing this regional incident, the fire is still smoldering but is now under control. Click here to learn more about the City of Tustin's plans and mitigation measures for deconstruction of the remaining hangar.

IUSD continues to closely monitor this situation and is in daily contact with the appropriate expert agencies managing this regional incident. We will continue to communicate updates and information to the IUSD community while this incident remains active.

If you have questions about the incident, air quality concerns and testing, debris reporting, hangar site clean-up or other general questions, please visit the City of Tustin’s incident website or call their hotline at 714-426-2444, which is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

Update #9 on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 11:20 a.m.

There are no reported health or air quality alerts for Irvine at this time. IUSD continues to closely monitor this situation and is in daily contact with the appropriate expert agencies managing this regional incident. We will continue to communicate updates and information to the IUSD community while this incident remains active.

The following is an update from the Tustin Hangar Fire Incident Management Team to Orange County residents. Visit the City of Tustin’s incident webpage for the full update and for more information.

The Incident Management Team, which includes the City of Tustin, in partnership with the U.S. Navy, AQMD, Orange County Health Care Agency, Orange County Fire Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency and Orange County Emergency Management, is working to mitigate this situation as quickly as possible.
Air monitoring units (AMUs) have been deployed around the site and inside a 1.5-mile circumference around the hangar. These AMUs monitor for dust and smoke. Currently, there are no areas that are showing unhealthful levels.
A controlled and systematic teardown of the remaining structure is being prepared. The exact date and time of the teardown has not been determined. The Incident Management Team are working with engineers, environmental experts and other key agencies to put mitigation measures in place. More public information will be coming form the Incident Management Team.

The safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority. For more information about IUSD mitigation measures that are in place at IUSD schools and facilities, as added layers of safety, please see the following pervious updates (#6 and #7).

Update #8 on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 2:35 p.m.

IUSD continues to closely monitor the Tustin hangar fire incident. Similar to the update we provided yesterday, there are no reported air quality or public health alerts for Irvine. IUSD remains in daily contact with AQMD, the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Fire Authority, along the City of Tustin’s incident command. While this is a regional incident that is under the command of these agencies, IUSD has implemented additional layers of safety and mitigation measures on our campuses and at our facilities in an abundance of caution. Please see Update #7 below for detailed information. For IUSD specific information, continue to visit this webpage.

The safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority and as previously communicated the District continues to closely monitor conditions and follow guidance from the appropriate expert agencies and will keep our community informed.

Update #7 on Monday, November 13, 2023 at 1:20 p.m.

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and the City of Tustin have informed the District that there may be a smell of smoke in the area from the Tustin hangar fire due to shifting winds. According to both agencies, there is no alert for Irvine and recent air quality monitoring has not detected the presence of reportable harmful material. IUSD school sites that experience the smell of smoke will modify outdoor activities and athletics per AQMD and Orange County Health Care Agency guidelines.

According to the Tustin Incident Management Team, which includes OCFA, AQMD, OCHCA, the City of Tustin and other agencies, they are primarily concerned with large pieces of debris rather than smoke, because large debris is what may contain harmful materials. At this time, no debris or suspect material has been found on IUSD campuses.

Per our previous update to the IUSD community on Sunday, November 12 (see update #6 below), 10 school sites in closest proximity to the Tustin hangar fire were inspected by an independent expert environmental agency yesterday, which confirmed no presence of debris or suspect materials on those campuses. Additionally, outside surfaces at those schools were cleaned by our Facilities and Maintenance team prior to the start of school today.

IUSD is Aligned with Expert Agencies Leading this Regional Incident - Proactive Mitigation Measures

IUSD continues to follow the guidance of expert agencies leading this regional incident. While there continue to be no alerts for Irvine at this time, as an added layer of mitigation and safety, the District has put the following proactive measures in place in an abundance of caution:

IUSD has been and continues to monitor for the presence of visible debris from the fire at District schools and facilities. Currently, no suspect debris has been reported on IUSD campuses.
IUSD schools will continue to monitor local conditions and modify outdoor activities and athletics as needed in accordance with AQMD and OCHCA guidelines.
Outdoor air intakes on HVAC units at District schools and facilities have been closed.
IUSD schools are equipped with enhanced HVAC systems put into place during COVID-19, using MERV-13 filters.
IUSD also continues to provide portable HEPA filtered air cleaners for all classrooms and facilities.
In addition to receiving alerts from AQMD, all IUSD schools are also equipped with AQMD recommended outside air quality sensors, which the District is actively monitoring.
While there is no recommendation from county agencies, in an abundance of caution, the District's Facilities and Maintenance teams will wash outdoor surfaces of all IUSD schools daily while this incident remains active.

Safety is Our Top Priority and We Continue to Keep our Community Informed

For Incident Updates and Questions About Air Quality and Materials Testing, Visit the Tustin Incident Command Website

Please continue to visit this webpage for the latest information from IUSD. The lead agencies for this regional incident are a part of the Tustin Incident Management Team. If you have additional questions, including air quality testing and harmful materials, please visit their incident website, which provides the most recent information from county and local expert agencies along with related resources.

Update #6 on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 8:15 p.m. (Letter Emailed to the IUSD Community)

Dear IUSD Community,

Good evening and we hope this message finds you well. The following is an update regarding the North Tustin Hangar Fire Incident and proactive measures IUSD has taken to help ensure the safety of our campuses and facilities for students, staff and families.

No Alerts for Irvine and No Recommendation to Close Schools

At this time and similar to previous updates provided to the IUSD community, there are no alerts for Irvine and there is no recommendation from any state, county or local agency to close schools. IUSD schools will remain open with no recommendations for limiting outdoor activities or athletics from public health agencies or the environmental expert agency the District has hired to assess conditions and the safety of IUSD campuses. We look forward to seeing students on campus tomorrow.

Conditions in Irvine

According to county officials, the Santa Ana weather conditions that occurred last week blew winds and subsequent debris and ash away from Irvine during the height of the hangar fire when these materials and the plume of smoke were the strongest. This is why Irvine has not experienced the same conditions as Tustin and why the impact has been minimal in our city.

However, IUSD continues to closely monitor this situation and should conditions change, we will take the necessary steps to keep our schools and facilities safe.

Proactive Mitigation Measures Taken by IUSD

Since the onset of the incident and throughout this weekend, IUSD has remained in close contact and met with relevant county and local public health authorities to stay apprised of the latest information and guidance.

The District also hired an independent public health and science-based consulting firm, Forensic Analytical, to assess and assist the District in mitigating any possible concerns to help ensure the safety of IUSD campuses and facilities. Please see below to learn more about IUSD actions.

IUSD has been and continues to monitor for the presence of visible debris from the fire at District schools and facilities. Currently, no suspect debris has been reported. This is consistent with expectations as a result of the Santa Ana wind conditions last week, which blew winds away from Irvine and subsequently related debris.
In an abundance of caution, IUSD took measures to limit outdoor activities at District schools and facilities on Thursday. There is no data or guidance from public health agencies at this time to limit outdoor activities or athletics. However, if conditions change, we’ll modify accordingly at that time.
The District closed outdoor air intakes on HVAC units at District schools and facilities.
IUSD schools are equipped with enhanced HVAC systems put into place during COVID-19, using MERV-13 filters.
IUSD also continues to provide portable HEPA filtered air cleaners for all classrooms and facilities.
In addition to receiving alerts from AQMD, all IUSD schools are also equipped with AQMD recommended outside air quality sensors, which the District is actively monitoring. At this time, there is no indication of unhealthy air at any IUSD school.

Forensic Analytical also conducted site inspections at 10 IUSD schools in closest proximity to the Tustin hangar fire. Those schools included:

Elementary

College Park
Culverdale
Deerfield
El Camino
Greentree
Westpark

Middle

Venado

PK-8

Plaza Vista

High

Creekside
Irvine High School

Consistent with conditions and information shared from the county, no debris was found on these campuses. IUSD staff at all school sites will continue to monitor for debris and clean outside areas and surfaces.

We understand that this incident may cause concern for some in our community and we would like to assure you that safety is our top priority. Please know that the District is closely monitoring the situation and we will keep the IUSD community informed should conditions change. Please continue to visit iusd.org/AQUpdates for updates.

Public Health Message

The Tustin Incident Command team is urging residents in Tustin and the surrounding cities, to avoid touching debris related to the fire, as it may contain asbestos and other harmful materials. While the debris has been largely localized within the City of Tustin, all residents in surrounding cities are asked to report any concerns or found debris to the Tustin Incident Command hotline at 714-937-0750.

For more information about this incident, ongoing updates visit the City of Tustin’s website by clicking here.

Sincerely,
IUSD

Update #5 on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 6:20 p.m.

As of today, the Orange County Fire Authority reported no major changes in the fire conditions. The Orange County Health Care Agency is urging residents in Tustin and the surrounding cities, to avoid touching any debris related to the fire, as it may contain asbestos and other harmful materials. While the debris has been largely localized within the City of Tustin, all residents in surrounding cities are asked to report any concerns or found debris to the county’s hotline at 714-628-7085.

*Example of Debris from Tustin Hangar Fire Found at the Veterans Sports Park in Tustin.*

For more information about this incident, ongoing updates and Orange County Health Care Agency guidance if debris is found, visit the county’s incident website at ocgov.com/tustin.

Proactive Measures Taken by IUSD

While there continues to be no air quality alerts for Irvine at this time, yesterday and throughout the day today, IUSD has met with county and local agencies. In addition to receiving regular updates from these agencies, IUSD has taken the following proactive measures since receiving notice of public health concerns from the county early Thursday (11/9) morning. The District has also hired an independent public health and science-based consulting firm to assess and help the District mitigate any possible concerns to help ensure the safety of IUSD campuses and facilities.

IUSD is communicating with relevant public health authorities to stay apprised of the latest information and prevention guidance. This includes but is not limited the agencies listed above.
IUSD is monitoring for the presence of visible ash or other particulates from the fire at District schools and facilities. Currently, no suspect material has been reported. This is consistent with expectations as a result of the Santa Ana wind conditions last week, which blew winds away from Irvine and subsequently related debris and particulate matter.
In an abundance of caution, IUSD took measures to limit outdoor activities at District schools and facilities on Thursday and will continue to do so if conditions warrant modified outdoor activities.
The District closed outdoor air intakes on HVAC units at District schools and facilities.
IUSD schools are equipped with enhanced HVAC systems put into place during COVID-19, using MERV-13 filters.
IUSD also continues to provide portable HEPA filtered air cleaners for all classrooms and facilities.
In addition to receiving alerts from AQMD, all IUSD schools are also equipped with AQMD recommended outside air quality sensors, which the District is actively monitoring. At this time, there is no indication of unhealthy air at any IUSD school.

The District is closely monitoring the situation and will keep the IUSD community informed should conditions change. Please continue checking this page for updated information.

Update #4 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 4:26 p.m.:

IUSD participated in the third and final County of Orange Joint Information Center call today that included government agencies throughout the county. Similar to previous updates provided earlier today, there are no air quality alerts for Irvine from the AQMD at this time.

Update #3 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 12:30 p.m.:

IUSD participated in second County of Orange Joint Information Center call this afternoon. At this time, there is no new information related to Irvine or IUSD. We continue to work with city and county agencies and to actively monitor conditions at IUSD schools sites. We will continue to keep the IUSD community informed should conditions change.

The County has established a Tustin Hangar Fire incident webpage, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Update #2 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 8:17 a.m.:

IUSD remains in close contact with the AQMD, the County of Orange, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Irvine Police Department. After participating in a countywide call for government and first responder agencies, there is no new information related to Irvine at this time. We will keep our families informed should conditions change. Please continue to look for messages from IUSD and from your school(s) for additional information and updates as they are available.

Important Reminders:

IUSD remains in close contact with county and city agencies. No advisory is issued for Irvine and the there is no recommendation to close schools.
The District is closely monitoring the situation and will keep the IUSD community informed should conditions change.
According to officials, the Santa Ana wind event is blowing winds away from Irvine and therefore our city is not experiencing the same conditions as Tustin or other cities in the region at this time.
In addition to alerts from AQMD, all IUSD schools are also equipped with AQMD recommended outside air quality sensors, which the District is actively monitoring. At this time, there is no indication of unhealthy air at any IUSD school.
IUSD schools are equipped with enhanced HVAC systems put into place during COVID.

Update #1 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 7:06 a.m.:

Dear IUSD Families,

As you may be aware, a fire began burning at the decommissioned Tustin Marine Air Station earlier this week. While there is no danger to IUSD schools and smoke or poor air quality are not currently impacting our area, IUSD has remained in close contact with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Irvine Police Department. At this time there is no alert or advisory for Irvine and IUSD schools remain open. Additionally, the Orange County Health Care Agency has advised IUSD that there is no recommendation to close schools.

However, if the winds shift throughout the day and there is an impact to IUSD schools, we will immediately modify outdoor activities and athletics to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The District team remains in close contact with these agencies and we will continue to monitor air quality in the area. We will provide updates when available as needed.

Sincerely,

IUSD Communications

Campus Safety

Emergency Preparedness