History Goes Up In Flames

Investigators in El Mirage, CA are trying to figure out how it all started -- a huge fire at the Aviation Warehouse that burned an extensive library of technical manuals for aircraft that date back to before WWII.

The rare manuals were valued at $10 million, and most are considered one-of-a-kind or irreplaceable. About a third of the library was destroyed.

"We have a huge library and that's a lot of what we lost," said warehouse owner Mark Thomson. "The good news is we don't owe anything on any of it."

The fire -- which may have started in the building's electrical system, although no one is sure just yet -- took over four hours to bring under control.

"It's still under investigation," said San Bernardino County fire department captain Joshua Sprague to the Victorville Daily Press. "We do not believe it to be arson. It's just a lot of work. This is a big mess."

If there's any good news, it's that a nearby building housing all sorts of aviation war memorabilia was saved. There was also no apparent damage to any of the planes housed at the Aviation Warehouse, a company that rents vintage warbirds to Hollywood for use in motion pictures.

"At least we are all still here," Thomson said.

FMI: www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/sets/1449754/