Fire Halted Before Destroying Vintage Aircraft

The California location of the Planes of Fame Air Museum was narrowly rescued on January 5, when the combined efforts of local Chino Valley Fire District firefighters and an effective sprinkler system extinguished a fire within a nearby hangar at Chino Airport. The blaze was stopped before any direct damage could be done, said Museum Director Jerry Wilkins. 

The fire was reported around 5:30 in the evening, a fire taking place adjacent to 2 of the museum's parked aircraft. Wilkins said some contents of the hangar were burned, but a full assessment remains to be completed to discover the extent of the damage. Reports indicated a T-6 Texan and an undisclosed restoration in progress were in the affected hangar, but thankfully remained untouched thanks to the rapid intervention of Engine 63. The owner of the hangar is one of the Museum's board of directors, and the T-6 is property of the organization. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Chino Valley Fire spokeswoman Massiel De Guevara, said no one was present in the area when it started. 

The Chino Airport is a historic location, being the site of the pre-war Cal Aero, an independent flying school that contracted with the Army Air Corps to provide ab initio flight training to Cadets. The historic mystique remains in the airport, now a hub for vintage aircraft preservation and restoration. The airport even retains its former signage and badging preserved throughout the airport as a nod to its origins.  

FMI: www.planesoffame.org