John Wayne Airport : Fire’s ‘Blowtorch’ Effect Attributed to Air Hose
A fire that destroyed a building at Martin Aviation on Tuesday was spread by a compressed air hose that melted, creating a “blowtorch effect,” fire officials said Wednesday.
The air hose “whipped the fire right through the building,” said Kathleen Cha, a spokeswoman for the County Fire Department.
Damage was estimated at $475,000. Electronic aviation equipment lost in the fire was valued at $440,000 and damage to the small modular structure was estimated at $35,000, Cha said.
Five persons suffered mild smoke inhalation while moving airplanes away from the building, Cha said.
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