Santiago Canyon Wildfire vs. MCAS El Toro

22 October 2007: On Sunday evening the nearby hills of Santiago Canyon became the latest victim to fire, adding to the already mounting number of wildfires throughout Southern California. El Toro Base is situated no less than five miles from the burning carnage. The sky was painted with orange, gray, and brown as smoke loomed overhead. Gusty winds and ash particulates which made the air difficult to breathe forced the city to shut down the base on Monday. All operations were closed for the day (which include Montessori Daycare, Lennar/Great Park offices, All-Star RV Storage, Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) extension classes, and base demolition). I believe this was the first time the entire base was shut down since it first re-opened to the public back in 2000/01.

Aviation Training Pool

20 October 2007: I thought we'd do something a little different this time. The previous posts have been about current changes and happenings on the old El Toro Marine base. But once in a while it would be nice to post older photographs that have been taken around the base--ok, not that old, but pictures that capture how the base look before demolition.




Here you'll find photographs of the Aviation Training Pool (Bldg. 639) from different locations. A former Marine stationed at El Toro told me this is probably where aviation personnel practiced how to swim in the event that their plane would crash over a body of water. I initially though Cal State Fullerton (who has an extension campus in some of the old base buildings) was using this building as well because it did not look old and deteriorated. I imagine this was built during the 1980's when MCAS El Toro underwent upgrades and new building construction.

[Note: These photographs were taken on 10 July 2007 of the indoor Aviation Training Pool building, located just past the Commanding Officer's building and across the street from Communications Building on Trabuco Rd. x Marine Way. As of October 2007 the area has been gated off in preparation for demolition.]