TEHACHAPI, Calif. | On Thursday, March 13th, at approximately 1:07 PM, Kern County firefighters were dispatched to a reported airplane hangar fire at Tehachapi Airport. Due to weather conditions, visibility was poor with a significant amount of snow falling, and temperatures around 30 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Dark smoke was still visible from a distance. Units arrived on the scene to find heavy smoke and flames from all open doors of the hangar. 

The closest fire hydrant was over 800 feet away from the hangar. Crews quickly plumbed a 4-inch hose line all the way to the hydrant to provide a continuous water supply. Fuel had spilled on the ground inside the hangar, igniting and adding to the fire's intensity, and pressurized canisters began to explode from the heat. The fire was quickly brought under control through a coordinated effort. It was contained to the affected hangar, with no extension to adjacent hangars in close proximity. Despite the challenges, crews did an amazing job of quickly extinguishing the fire in a safe and efficient manner.