Unoccupied Hangar at Minot Catches Fire

Dec. 30, 2019 | By Amy Hudson

The Air Force is investigating to see what caused a fire to break out in an unoccupied hangar typically used for overflow snow removal equipment and transient alert equipment at Minot AFB, N.D., days after Christmas.

The fire, which started around 5:15 p.m. local time on Dec. 28, burned for nearly 24 hours before it was successfully extinguished at 2:57 p.m. on Dec. 29.

“No other buildings were affected. No one was injured and the hangar did not have any personnel or aircraft inside,” according to a Dec. 30 release.

Minot is one of three USAF bases that house intercontinental ballistic missiles. It’s also home to the 5th Bomb Wing, which flies B-52 Stratofortresses. 

Related Content

Air Force Missile Cancer Study Samples for New Chemicals, Finds No Health Hazard

Oct. 23, 2024
The latest round of environmental sampling for the Air Force’s Missile Community Cancer Study found trace amounts of potentially harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds in the service’s ICBM facilities, but not at levels that would pose a health hazard, Air Force Global Strike Command announced Oct. 22.

USAF F-15s Arriving in Middle East as Israel Weighs Response to Iran Attack

Oct. 9, 2024
More of the U.S. Air Force fighters directed to deploy to the Middle East late last month began arriving in the region as Israel contemplates its response to Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel. A squadron of F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is deploying to…

Greece to Buy Up to 40 F-35s, Growing Fighter’s European Footprint

July 25, 2024
Greece is acquiring at least 20 F-35s in a deal valued at $3.5 billion but could double that number with options. It will continue upgrading some of its F-16s but sell some off, possibly to Ukraine, and offer its French Mirage 2000s and Rafales to other countries, as well.

Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2

April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.

First AI Dogfights Focus on Safety, Building for CCA Applications 

April 21, 2024
The first live-fly dogfights pitting artificial intelligence against human pilots took place last fall, and more tests are planned as the Air Force prepares to launch the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, DARPA and Air Force test officials reported.

US, UK Unleash New Wave of Strikes on Houthi Missile Sites

Jan. 22, 2024
The U.S. and U.K. launched a new wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Jan. 22, hitting radars, missile support systems, and underground weapon storage areas, the Pentagon said. The strikes were in response to Houthi attacks on American commercial ships in the Red Sea.

AFA’s Next CEO: The Search Is On 

Dec. 18, 2023
The search for the Air & Space Forces Association's next President & CEO is underway, and the search committee is casting a wide net to identify as many qualified candidates as possible by Jan. 13, 2024.

Latest KC-46 Lot Contract Award Leaves Only Three More to Go

Nov. 30, 2023
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.