Tipping tree worries residents
Utility provider: Tree poses no urgent threat
(CLICK on photo above, to see even more photos from this story)
Printer-friendly version
Send to friendA partially uprooted tree has a Cochise County enclave resident too worried to sleep in his home, while a utility provider said the tree poses no immediate threat.
Between 4th and 5th streets south of Tacoma Street in Sierra Vista, a 40-foot tree tilts precariously above the alley separating the backyards of residents, warping a chain link fence under its weight and touching the guide lines of nearby power poles.
Victor Soltero lives directly across the narrow alley from the tree. He said he has been worried about the possibility of it falling over for some time, and first noticed how much it was leaning yesterday.
“I just noticed it this morning. I got very nervous, anxious,” Soltero said Wednesday.
Soltero said he flagged down a nearby police officer, pointed out the tree, and that the officer then contacted the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.
Worried about the potential fire hazard by damaged power lines, Soltero spent the next few hours removing anything flammable from the rear exterior of his home, over which the lines hang.
SSVEC officials said that their crews had been dispatched to the scene and their initial evaluation is that there was no immediate safety issue.
“If it was any danger we’d take care of it tonight,” said Jack Blair, chief member services officer for SSVEC, on Wednesday.
Line crews will return to the scene this morning along with members of the tree trimming company that the electric cooperative contracts with to examine the situation more closely and make a determination as to what needs to be done, said Wayne Crane, public relations manager for the utility co-op.
After attempting to move metal scaffolding into position to try and deflect the tree, should it fall, Soltero said he would likely be sleeping elsewhere Wednesday night.
“I don’t want to take the chance,” he said.
If you find a correction for this story, please contact our editorial department
Related Terms:
Poll
This Week's Events
|
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 06:30
|
|
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 10:30
|
|
Sat, 02/25/2012 - 18:00
|
|
Sun, 02/26/2012 (All day)
|
Mmmm… given the choice living next to the tree or the trash, I think I’d take the tree.
Maybe if it does fall and do some damage it will take out some of the dilapidated homes in that area as well as all the junk that is being hoarded. I agree with a previous poster, if it takes you a few hours to move flammable material away from your home then you are probably just as much of a hazard to the community as this tree is.
Maybe the warping chain link fence is the only thing holding the tree up while it’s leaning on the power pole guideline. I do hope SSVEC decides to take the tree down.
Good point by Kharon - but I think whoever owns the property on which the tree is growing is responsible to having the danger tree removed or paying for any damages caused by the tree falling.
That metal scaffolding will do nothing and maybe the city will as well. That area with it’s old trailers (mobile homes) isnt a priority unless its a contractor wanting to tear them all down. I hope they do something before its too late.
If you have ‘a few hours’ worth of flammable material around the rear exterior of your home, you need to clean that… up! *You’re* the hazard!