Fire Damages Historic Goodyear Airdock

(Akron/Tire Review) A flash fire apparently started by welding work caused a fire that damaged the historic Goodyear Airdock in Akron earlier today. No one was injured, and Akron firefighters were reportedly able to bring the fire under control. The two-alarm fire reportedly started at around 11:00am yesterday morning, and smoke and flames were seen rising out of the huge facility, now owned by Lockheed Martin Aerospace.

The airdock was built in 1929, and was used to build Goodyear’s fleet of airships and blimps. It is some 1,175 feet long, 325 feet wide and 211 feet tall. Reports say that Akron firefighters had trouble dealing with the blaze because of the structure’s height, but some managed to reach the roof to battle the blaze.

Goodyear sold the airdock some 20 years ago, and Lockheed Martin purchased the facility in 1996. Currently, the company uses the airdock for research on military specified high altitude airships.