Fire Destroys Warehouse at Air Station
A planned demolition at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station began earlier than expected when a fire destroyed a warehouse early Wednesday morning, fire authorities said.
Two Marines were walking by the warehouse, used as a wood workshop, at about 3:40 a.m. when they spotted the flames, fire authorities said.
All three engines of the base fire department responded. Three more Orange County Fire Authority units were called to lend support, fire officials said.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze within an hour. Despite the collapse of the roof, no one was injured, fire authorities said.
Richard Okeson, acting chief of the El Toro Marine Base Fire Department, said the cause of the blaze is under investigation.
The warehouse, built in the 1950s, was to be demolished when the base closes in mid-1999.
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